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sword of Damocles

Noun CEFR C1
ˈsɔɹd əv ˈdæməkliz

Definitions

A thing or situation which causes a prolonged state of impending doom or misfortune.

Equivalents

11 more languages

Examples

“Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut⟳ at any moment by accident, or miscalculation or by madness. The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us.”
“At some point⟳ the Sword of Damocles which hangs over all our railway operations will fall⟳ with catastrophic impact, just as it did at Hatfield in 2000.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

Sword of Orion sword of state sword swallower sword swallowing sword verse sword-and-sorcery

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