Greek Mythology

the apple of discord (idiom)

A small thing that causes a big argument or rivalry between people.

where the quarrel began

the judgment of Paris (idiom)

A difficult choice between rivals, where whatever you decide is bound to make enemies.

the fateful choice

the face that launched a thousand ships (idiom)

A person whose beauty is so great it inspires enormous effort, conflict, or devotion.

the prize that lit the war

Trojan horse (idiom)

Something that looks like a harmless gift but secretly carries a hidden danger inside.

how Troy finally fell

Achilles' heel (idiom)

A single hidden weakness in someone or something otherwise strong.

the hero's one weakness

Odyssey (word)

a long and difficult journey with many exciting or dangerous events. You use this word to describe a trip that changes you or feels like an adventure.

the ten-year voyage itself

mentor (word)

an experienced person who helps and guides you over a long period of time. They share their knowledge to help you succeed in your job or studies.

the guide left behind

between Scylla and Charybdis (idiom)

Caught between two dangers, where avoiding one forces you closer to the other.

trapped between two deaths

to outwit the Cyclops (idiom)

To defeat a much stronger opponent by using cleverness rather than force.

escaping the one-eyed giant

siren song (idiom)

An appeal that is powerfully tempting but leads to ruin.

the song that lures to ruin

the patience of Penelope (idiom)

Great loyalty and patience shown by someone who waits faithfully for a long time.

the wife who waited

Ariadne's thread (idiom)

A method or clue that guides you safely through a confusing, complicated problem.

the clue out of the maze

caught in a labyrinth (idiom)

Trapped in a situation so complicated and confusing that there seems to be no way out.

lost in the maze

Labyrinth (word)

a complicated system of paths or tunnels that is very easy to get lost in. It can also describe a confusing situation with many difficult rules.

the maze itself

the wings of Icarus (idiom)

Bold ambition that reaches too far and ends in a sudden, dramatic fall.

the escape by air

fly too close to the sun (idiom)

To be so ambitious that you overreach and bring about your own downfall.

the fatal ascent

crossing the Styx (idiom)

Passing a point of no return, especially into death or an irreversible change.

the river of no return

to descend into Hades (idiom)

To enter a dark, frightening, or hopeless situation, often to face something you dread.

down among the dead

drinking from Lethe (idiom)

To forget completely, as if wiping away all memory of something.

the water of forgetting

tantalize (word)

To tease someone by offering or showing something they want, then keeping it just out of reach.

punished just out of reach

a Sisyphean task (idiom)

A task that is endless and futile, because it must be repeated forever without ever being finished.

the endless labour

the Fates have spoken (idiom)

A decision has been made that cannot be changed, as if it were destiny.

the thread that cannot be undone

a Herculean task (idiom)

A task requiring enormous strength, effort, or determination to complete.

a labour fit for a demigod

the labors of Hercules (idiom)

A long series of extremely difficult challenges that must all be overcome one after another.

the twelve trials

like Atlas carrying the world (idiom)

Bearing a huge, crushing burden or responsibility almost entirely on your own.

the weight of the heavens

atlas (word)

a book of maps or a collection of charts; it can also refer to a specific bone in your neck or a figure from Greek mythology.

the Titan who bore the sky

Promethean fire (idiom)

A spark of creativity, knowledge, or inspiration that transforms and empowers those who receive it.

the stolen spark

Promethean ambition (idiom)

A bold, defiant ambition to achieve something forbidden or beyond ordinary limits, whatever the cost.

defiance of the gods

a Pyrrhic victory (idiom)

A win that costs so much it feels almost like a defeat.

chimera (word)

a creature or object that is made by combining parts from different things. In modern science, it refers to an animal that has parts from two or more different species.

narcissism (word)

too much love for yourself and your own appearance. It often means someone thinks they are much more important than other people.

Nemesis (word)

a person or thing that is a constant enemy or a very difficult problem to overcome. It often feels like they are specifically designed to defeat you.

Pandora's box (idiom)

Something that looks harmless but, once started, releases a flood of troubles you cannot undo.

Phoenix (word)

a magical bird from old stories that lives for hundreds of years. When it dies, it burns into ashes and then is born again as a young bird.

rest on one's laurels (idiom)

To rely on past success and stop making the effort to keep improving.

rise from the ashes (idiom)

To recover and become strong again after being completely destroyed or defeated.

sleeping like Endymion (idiom)

Sleeping deeply and peacefully, as if in an unbroken, ageless slumber.

the Gordian knot (idiom)

A problem so tangled and complicated that it can only be solved by a bold, unconventional stroke.

the Midas touch (idiom)

A special ability to make money or succeed at almost everything you try.

the sword of Damocles (idiom)

A constant, looming danger that could strike at any moment, hanging over someone who seems fortunate.