sword of Damocles

noun

1. any situation threatening imminent harm or disaster.

Sword of Damocles

noun

1. a closely impending disaster

Word History and Origins

Origin of sword of Damocles¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of sword of Damocles¹

see Damocles

Idioms and Phrases

Also, Damocles' sword . Impending disaster, as in The likelihood of lay-offs has been a sword of Damocles over the department for months . This expression alludes to the legend of Damocles, a servile courtier to King Dionysius I of Syracuse. The king, weary of Damocles' obsequious flattery, invited him to a banquet and seated him under a sword hung by a single hair, so as to point out to him the precariousness of his position. The idiom was first recorded in 1747. The same story gave rise to the expression hang by a thread .

Example Sentences

"Unfortunately letters went out saying she wasn't impacted which added insult to injury and there has been a void in the interim and this sword of Damocles of owing money and being chased for it remains hanging over her 12 months later, which hasn't been good for her mental health."

From BBC

By that point, the TV veteran had been unemployed for more than six months, and his children’s private school tuitions were looming over him like the sword of Damocles.

From Los Angeles Times

They add, “the board should recognize the influence of the sword of Damocles hanging over shareholder heads: the outcome of any stockholder vote could well be seriously distorted by Musk’s looming threat.”

From Los Angeles Times

The board should recognize the influence of the sword of Damocles hanging over shareholder heads: the outcome of any stockholder vote could well be seriously distorted by Musk’s looming threat.

From Los Angeles Times

He said Mr Sunak was "so diminished" that his "entire focus is on stopping his MPs holding the sword of Damocles above his head, perhaps even literally".

From BBC