These phrases were all derived from Ancient Greek stories, but they have become common parlance in the modern world.
Between a rock and a hard place – from the myth of Scylla and Charybdis in the Odyssey. When Odysseys wanted to sail through a narrow channel he was caught between Scylla the terrifying six-headed monster and Charybdis and giant sea monster who swallowed and spat out the ocean.
Echo Chamber – The nymph Echo fell in love with Narcissus but could never speak her own feelings, after a curse from Hera. She continually repeated his words back to home and wasted away in a cave until only her echoing voice remained.
Fatal flaw – Icarus flew too close to the sun
Flying too close to the sun – Icarus again
Sour grapes – from Aesop’s Fables. A hungry fox doesn’t manage to reach a bunch of grapes says he wasn’t interested anyway…
Carrying the weight of the world – Atlas was condemned to eternally hold up the heavens
Greeks bearing gifts – Trojan priest Laocoon warns his people about the deceptive Trojan Horse
Leave a comment