poisoned chalice
Something which is initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful; an apparently beneficial or benign instrument or scheme for causing death or harm.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The new job offer is a poisoned chalice.”
“This inheritance is a poisoned chalice because of the massive debt attached to it.”
“The promotion seemed like a great opportunity, but it turned out to be a poisoned chalice because of the impossible workload.”
“Winning the lottery became a poisoned chalice for the family after distant relatives and strangers began constantly hounding them for money.”
“Accepting the leadership role during such a financial crisis proved to be a poisoned chalice that ultimately destroyed his professional reputation.”
first recorded 17th c.
From poisoned + chalice (“a large drinking cup”), referring to a chalice containing a poisoned drink which is offered to someone. The earliest use of the term cited in the Oxford English Dictionary is in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (c. 1606), in a speech in which Macbeth flinches from the prospective murder of King Duncan: see the quotation.
- 01
name one's poison
To indicate what type of alcoholic beverage one wishes to be served.
- 02
poison pen
A manner, means, or tone of expression had by a written work, characterized by spitefulness, defamation, and/or intimidation directed toward a person, organization, or point of view.
- 03
taste of one's own poison
Synonym of taste of one's own medicine.
- 04
what's your poison
Used to someone what alcoholic beverage they would like to drink: what drink would you like to have?
Last updated August 10, 2026