Allusions Semester 1 Meanings Flashcards
Achilles’ Heel
a person’s area of particular vulnerability
Pound of Flesh
someone’s insistence on being repaid, even if the repayment will destroy or harm the debtor
Sacred Cow
something that cannot be interfered with or harmed in any way
Crossing the Rubicon
an irreversible step, often involving some danger
Pearls before Swine
To “cast one’s pearls before swine” is to offer something precious to someone, or a group of people, unable to appreciate the value of what they are being given
Once in a Blue Moon
something that occurs very rarely
Mrs. Grundy
The word “Grundyism” and the phrase “Mrs. Grundy” refer to such an attitude of narrow-minded prudishness
Crocodile Tears
to shed crocodile tears is to show false sympathy for someone
Sirens
anything that tempts a person away from safety and toward a destructive path. A “siren song” is the temptation used to lure a person
Read the Riot Act
to issue a stern warning that if unacceptable behavior does not cease, severe consequences will follow
Thirty Pieces of Silver/Betrayed with a Kiss
“Thirty pieces of silver” refers to payment received for an act of treachery. “Betrayed with a kiss” refers to a supposed friend’s treachery
Gordian Knot
any extremely complex problem and “cutting the Gordian knot” refers to solving such a problem in a quick, decisive manner
Ivory Tower
A person who is secluded or protected from the real world and thus out of the touch with reality is said to be residing in an “ivory tower.”
All that Glitters is not Gold
something which appears valuable on the outside, may in fact be less than valuable. Appearances can be deceiving
Sound and Fury
a great, tumultuous, and passionate uproar that actually is unimportant or meaningless
Icarus/Fly Too Close to the Sun
To be “an Icarus” or to “fly too close to the sun” is to fail or be destroyed because of lack of caution or excessive ambition
Bread and Cicuses
policies designed to prevent unrest by keeping people happy and thus deflecting concern about troubling issues
Deus ex Machina
any surprising turn of events that suddenly makes things turn out all right, especially in a literary work. This device is often considered to be an unsatisfying and overly convenient way to end a story
Tabula Rasa
the idea that something or someone is entirely unmarked and uninfluenced
Tantalus
To be “tantalized” or to be like Tantalus, is to be offered something desirable which is then withheld
NIMBY
the idea that, while people may be aware of the necessity of some unpleasant realities, such as prisons, landfills, or chemical plants, they insist that these places be located away from where they live
Waterloo
To meet one’s Waterloo is to suffer an ultimate, decisive defeat
The Emperor’s New Clothes
used in the context of someone pointing out the falseness or pretentiousness of something, especially when others are afraid to admit the truth
Left-handed Compliment
a compliment that, despite being a compliment, is insulting or rude in some way
Golden Calf
an idol or any object, especially a material object, that is worshipped even though it is not worthy of worship
Sword of Damocles
an awareness of impending or imminent danger
Svengali
a person who exercises excessive control or influence over another person
Non Sequitur
a statement that is unrelated to what has been said before. In logic a non sequitur is a conclusion that does not logically follow the premises
White Elephant
an object that has no use to its owner and may even represent a financial burden or an inconvenience
Fiddle While Rome Burns
to display indifference in the midst of an emergency or disaster
In Media Res
anything that begins abruptly, in the middle of the action, or it can be used in its literal sense: in the middle of things
Loaves and Fishes
an almost miraculous abundance in the face of seeming scarcity
Magnum Opus
the greatest work produced by a writer, composer,or other artist
Janus
Calling someone a “Janus” can be either a positive or a negative statement. It can refer to the wisdom and knowledge of a person who sees everything, or to the two-faced, hypocritical nature of a person who presents two different appearances, depending on the circumstances. Thus, Janus represents duality in several ways.
A Chip on One’s Shoulder
A person with a chip on his or her shoulder is one who is inclined to be resentful or who seems to be looking for an excuse to fight
Noble Savage
a person who has not been corrupted by society or civilization
Burning Bush
a medium through which the voice of absolute authority speaks
Narcissus/ narcissism
The term “narcissism” is derived from the story of Narcissus. It refers to obsessive focus on oneself, particularly one’s physical appearance.
Scheherazade
A person who is an excellent storyteller, especially one who is able to keep an audience in suspense, may be compared to Scheherazade.
Skeleton in the Closet
unpleasant or embarrassing things about a person that he or she would prefer to keep hidden from others
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
when someone receives a great deal of media attention for something fairly trivial
Let the Cat out of the Bag/ Buy a Pig in a Poke
We use the phrase “letting the cat out of the bag” to refer to a secret’s being revealed. The phrase “buying a pig in a poke” describes buying something without first seeing it. Buying a pig in a poke is considered unwise because of the risks involved.
Lot’s Wife/ Pillar of Salt
someone who unwisely chooses to look back once he or she has begun on a course of action or someone who disobeys an explicit rule or command
Cassandra
someone who predicts disasters or negative results, especially to someone whose predictions are disregarded
Catch-22
an absurd, no-win situation
