AP Literature Allusions

Pandora's Box

"Opening a can of worms", spilling something that should not have been said

Achilles Heel

A person's major weakness can be their downfall

Tabula Rosa

No innate ideas in the human mind, blank slate (fresh start)

Crocodile Tears

Tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere

Sirens

Temptations; seduction; refers to enticements used to lure an individual; dangerously attractive woman

Nemesis

A person or thing that is difficult to overcome or defeat; a cause of punishment or defeat that is deserved and cannot be avoided

Ivory Tower

To describe someone's disconnect from real life (can refer to disconnect due to a place of privilege)

Witch Hunt

An intensive effort directed at an individual or group for the purpose of exposing unorthodox views throughout persecution

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

To declare or display that one is ready to fight, argue, or compete with someone: to challenge someone

Muse

A source of inspiration or motivation for an artist

Pollyanna

_________ means to be overly or naively optimistic. To always look for good in any situation.

Kryptonite

A source, condition, or circumstance that initiates and maintains a tremendous weakness or failure over something, especially against an otherwise strong or capable entity

Albatross around One's Neck

A heavy burden, a burden of guilt that blocks one from success

Xiaoxiang

The rivers, along with the eight views associated with them, have come to represent exile

Stay Gold

The meaning of the phrase is to hold one to one's purity and be true to yourself; holding the best parts of yourself

La Malinche

Epitome of treachery, the quintessential victim (conflicting meanings)

Don Juan

A man known for his ability to seduce women, often for sexual conquest, with no regard for their feelings or the lasting impact of his actions

Stonewall

Used to describe deliberate obstruction or evasion in conservations

Yoda

Deeply wise mentor or guidance (also can referring to unusual sentence structure _____ speaks in - English with a non-standard syntax (arrangement of words or phrases to give insight)

Mercurial

To be impulsive and have unpredictable mood changes. In astrology, being born under this planet can cause a _______ personality. It can also mean clever and quick.

Yahoo

A rude, noisy, or violent person

Shanghai

Force (someone) to join a ship lacking a full crew by drugging them or using other underhanded means

El Dorado

A place of great wealth opportunity tiches, or potential

If looks could kill

This phrase is used to describe a look that expresses extreme disgust, disapproval or distaste towards someone

Biting the Apple/Taking a bite out of the apple

Indulging in something that is considered illegal or sinful

Sleeping with the Fishes

To be dead, typically by unnatural causes, and have your corpse disposed of in a body of water

Draconian

(of laws of their application) excessively harsh and severe

Big Brother

An overly-controlling authority figure in the form of mass surveillance

Bedlam

A scene of chaos, destruction, or confusion; pandemonium

Catch-22

A dilemma in which two situtions are dependent on each other to solve within certian limitations and rules. You must solve one in order to get to the other and vice versa.

Einstein

Term used to describe someone as exceptionally intelligent or a genius, just like ________ himself. It can also be used in a sarcastic sense.

Narcissus

Narcissi peppered the garden, white specs amongst the mess of color standing out in the moonlight.

Scheherazade

A powerful and mesmerizing storyteller; prolonging an unwanted fate by using distractions

Freudian Slip

A verbal mistake made when speaking, varying from what was intended (changing meaning and may be intentional, or offensive)

Sacred Cow

Something/someone that is unreasonable considered immune from question or criticism

Golden Ticket

A gold colored ticket granting the wielder a prise; a qualification or circumstances that gives someone a significant opportunity

All that Glitters

Not everything is as good as it looks; what appears valuable may be worthless

Svengali

To refer to someone as manipulative or having a controlling influence over another

Romeo

An attractive, passionate male seducer or lover

Juggernaut

A tremendously powerful or unstoppable force, particularly relates to a group, movement, or team.

Mordor

A land ruled solely by darkness and evil

Frankenstein

Something made up of a variety of parts, typically in a disconnected way; A creation that turns against its creator

Boycott

An organized refusal to engage in commercial or social affairs as a punishments; form of protest

Jekyll & Hyde

Someone who seems to switch between two personalities, often one that is good and another that is evil

Machiavellian

Scheming, manipulative, or morally dubious behavior, often in pursuit of power or self-interest

Pooh-bah

Used to describe a person of influence or someone that holds several bureaucratic positions who is perceived as self-important

Mona Lisa

Enigmatic, mysterious, to pose with an air of mystery

Aphrodite

The beauty, love, desire, and romance inspired by the Goddess of Attraction and Love

Scylla and Charybdis

Between two very troublesome situations and neither is better than the other. A more common way to say it today would be "Between rock and a hard place"

Sisyphus

Requiring endless effort that is often futile

Mecca

A place that is a center for a particular interest

(Hot as) Hades

Extreme and uncomfortably hot temperature(s)

Stealing Someone's Thunder

Using another person's ideas creations, or something they planned to do in order to receive the anticipated praise or success

Pound of Flesh

To determine to get what one entitled regardless of consequences

Riot Act

Usually used in the phrase "read the _______"; to reprimand someone for their bad behavior and indicate there will be consequences if they continue

Sound and Fury

Refers to something that is full of dramatic and chaotic energy but ultimately meaningless or insignificant

Fiddle while Rome Burns

To do something trivial or pretend the problem at hand doesn't exists in the midst of an emergency

Handwriting is on the Wall

Prominent warning of danger; misfortune will soon strike; can be abbreviated to "writing on the wall"

Lothario

Refers to a man who is primarily interest in seducing and manipulating women

Waterloo

Meaning to meet one's need or to experience a crushing defeat or setback

15 Minutes of Fame

Brief, fleeting public attention or notoriety

Benedict Arnold

A traitor

Crossing the Rubicon

To cross the point of no return. It is an action that you can't undo and the effects of it can't be avoided/prevented