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| 4180719020 | Skeleton in the Closet | Origin: 19th century England, used 'water closet' (bathroom) or cupboard rather than closet Meaning: To describe or disclose a fact about someone that will have a negative impact on how people perceive them |  | 0 |
| 4180719021 | Tabula Rasa | Origin: Refers to the idea that all knowledge comes from experience or perception, rather than people being born with built-in knowledge. This was John Locke's philosophy. Meaning: Latin for "blank slate" (an absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals) |  | 1 |
| 4180719022 | Svengali | Origin: character in the novel Trilby (1864) by George du Maurier "villainous hypnotist" Meaning: someone who is manipulative or has excessive influence or control over another |  | 2 |
| 4180719023 | Burning Bush | Origin: Bible (Book of Exodus); bush was engulfed in flames but wasn't being consumed by them; God used it to tell Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt Meaning: divine sign or message |  | 3 |
| 4180719024 | Scheherazade | Origin: Arabic queen and storyteller of The Thousand and One Nights, a.k.a. The Arabian Nights The King, Shahryar, after he found out his first wife was unfaithful to him, decided henceforth that he would have a new wife each day, and the previous would be beheaded. Scheherazade avoided her death by telling stories to the king. (Stories like Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor) Meaning: having extraordinary storytelling skills |  | 4 |
| 4180719025 | Sound and Fury | Origin: line in Shakespeare's MacBeth in which MacBeth is mourning over the death of his wife Meaning: drama/uproar that is actually unimportant or meaningless |  | 5 |
| 4180719026 | Tantalus | Origin: Greek Mythology: Tantalus was a mortal favored by the gods, but he abused his position, offended the gods, and was condemned to stand chin deep in a pool of water in Tartarus with luscious fruit all around. Every time he went to drink the water or eat the fruit each receded from him. Meaning: to be tormented by the sight or promise of something unattainable |  | 6 |
| 4180719027 | Sword of Damocles | Origin: King Dionysius of Syracuse had a courtier named Damocles who commented on how great it must be to be king. Dionysius then laid riches and opulence around Damocles. However, he also had a sword hanged by a horsehair above Damocles head. Damocles then begged to leave the place of opulence to go back to his lowly position of courtier. Meaning: with fame, fortune, power, and wealth comes great danger and many threats |  | 7 |
| 4180719028 | Crocodile Tears | Origin: the the ancient belief that crocodiles shed tears while eating their victims/prey - Mentioned in The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville, 1400 - First contemporary literary use in 1563 Strype's Life of Grindal (re-published in 1711): Meaning: insincere/hypocritical expression of sorrow |  | 8 |
| 4180719029 | Ivory Tower | Origin: Song of Solomon 7:4 (King James Version): - Later used in 16th century prayer Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (AKA Litany Loreto) - Contemporary Definition found in French Frederick Rothwell and Cloudesley Shovell Henry Brereton Bergson's "Laughter", 1911 Meaning: secluded place that affords the means of treating practical issues with an impractical often escapist attitude; especially a place of learning (Usually used in reference to an attitude of aloofness from or disdain or disregard for worldly or practical affairs) |  | 9 |
| 4180719030 | Non-Sequitur | Origin: First used in 1590. Latin for "does not follow" Meaning: a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said |  | 10 |
| 4180719031 | Once in a Blue Moon | Origin: First used in 16th century by Cardinal Wolsey (Henry VIII's advisor) writing his enemies - Generally, the moon appears to be white or yellow-tinged - Very rare exception being in a volcanic ash cloud, making the moon appear blue - Saying the moon was blue was a metaphor for impossibility or absurdity Phrase Modified In: - 1700's: from impossibility to impossible in time - 19th century London slang for "in a long time", lost the use of quotation marks Meaning: Rarely; Once in a very long time |  | 11 |
| 4180719032 | Sacred Cow | Origin: Comes from the Hindu religion where cows are seen as sacred Meaning: something that is not supposed to be harmed |  | 12 |
| 4180719033 | Deus Ex Machina | Origin: A phrase from Greek/Roman theatre literally meaning "god from machine." It was a plot device used to wrap up extremely complicated or hopeless stories by mechanically lowering a god or goddess onto the stage. Meaning: Now the phrase is used to describe when any story is resolved too easily, or unexpectedly from outside assistance. |  | 13 |
| 4180719034 | Emperor's New Clothes | Origin: In a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, there is an Emperor who pays his tailors large sums of money to make him clothes from cloth that only "wise people can see." The clothes do not really exist, but the emperor pretends that he can see them, and shows them off to his subjects. Everyone else pretends that they too can see the clothes, until a young boy points out that the emperor is naked. Meaning: A situation in which people do not challenge something simply because everyone else seems to support it. |  | 14 |
| 4180719035 | Prodigal Son | Origin: The Gospel of Luke - According to the Gospel of Luke, a father had two sons. The younger son asked for his inheritance before his father died, and his father agreed. the younger son wasted his inheritance money on useless and extravagant things, rather than food, and went hungry. The younger son returned home, hungry and alone, and the father held a feast in his honor and killed a fattened calf to celebrate. When the older son asked his father why the younger son received this gift, the father responded by telling the older son that they were celebrating the younger son being lost and now found. Meaning: Used to describe someone being lost and then found. |  | 15 |
| 4180719036 | Shanghai | Origin: Shanghai sailor's went on voyages that were paid for by illegal means Meaning: to cheat or steal or gain by illegal means |  | 16 |
| 4180719037 | Thirty Pieces of Silver | Origin: Gospel of Matthew 26:15 in the New Testament - Judas betrayed Jesus Christ to the Romans for the price of ____________________. (the blank is the allusion, sorry no cheating) Meaning: represents the price to sell someone close to you out or to betray them (the price of betrayal) |  | 17 |
| 4180719038 | All That Glitters is Not Gold | Origin: Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice - Various different expressions were used before Shakespeare's days - Later modified in John Dryden's poem The Hind and Panther. Meaning: used to express that not everything shiney or attractive is valuable |  | 18 |
| 4180719039 | Chip on One's Shoulder | Origin: commonly used phrase in 19th century America - Phrase first appeared in the Weekly Oregon in 1855 Meaning: To hold a grudge |  | 19 |
| 4180719040 | In Media Res | Origin: Latin for 'into the middle of things' Used by the Roman poet Horace Meaning: used when a story starts at an important point in the middle and skips an introduction |  | 20 |
| 4180719041 | Let the cat out of the bag/ Buy a pig in a poke | Origin: When good meat was rare, cats and dogs would be secretly sold as pigs by selling them in bags - Cats put in bags, if they got out, the scam would be revealed Meaning: to reveal a secret; being told or believing something is worth more than it actually is |  | 21 |
| 4180719042 | Narcissus and Narcissism | Origin: 2000 year old Greek myth - Beautiful young man named Narcissus who Fell in love with his reflection - He was so entranced with his beauty that he withered away and was replaced by a flower Meaning: Condition with tragic consequences; "excessive or erotic interest in oneself" | 22 | |
| 4180719043 | Sirens and Their Call | Origin: Greek Mythology -Hybrid creatures of Greek mythology, in which they possessed features of a woman and a bird - Companions of Persephone; cursed by Demeter for not protecting her - Sat on an island between Scylla & Charybdis and sang Mesmerized men that passed through on ships and ate them Meaning: Something that's dangerous and compelling | 23 | |
| 4180719044 | Left-Handed Compliment | Origin: The latin word for left is 'sinestra' or sinister. Therefore, left-handed things have been deemed synonymous with 'devious' and 'indirect.' Meaning: A compliment which contains two actual meanings, one of which is unflattering to the recipient | 24 | |
| 4180719045 | White Elephant | Origin: In 1850-1855 the King of Siam would give people he was dissatisfied with a white elephant, because they were extremely expensive to care for and would end up ruining the person financially Meaning: Something that the owner cannot get rid of, but the item's expenses outweigh its purpose and usefulness | 25 | |
| 4180719046 | Icarus/Fly Too Close To the Sun | Origin: Greek Mythology - Icarus's father, Daedalus, created wings out of wood, wax, and feathers and gave a pair to Icarus. - His father warned him not to fly too close to the sun otherwise the wax would melt. - Icarus was so excited about flying he forgot about the warning. - He flew too close to the sun, the wax melted and he dove straight into the sea and died. Meaning: Be careful and take precautions. It's all fun and games until... | 26 | |
| 4180719047 | Janus | Origin: The Roman God of gates/doors, beginnings, and endings to new beginnings - Represented by double faced head - Beginnings: Agricultural seasons, births, marriages, etc. - His name was Janus (Janus= January) - Endings: Deaths, end of year/new beginnings Meaning: Blessings for new beginnings from endings such as New Year's, graduation, marriage, etc. | 27 | |
| 4180719048 | Magnum Opus | Origin: -Latin for "great work" -Plural of opus is "opera" Meaning: Greatest work produced by composer, artist, or any other artist | 28 | |
| 4180719049 | Nimby | Origin: Acronym for "Not In My Back Yard" Meaning: When people insist that unpleasant places be located away from where they live | 29 | |
| 4180719050 | Bread and Circuses | Origin: - Derived from Rome in Satire X of the Roman satirical poet Juvenal (circa A.D. 100) - Juvenal publicly denounced the selfishness the common people and neglected their concerns - Was used because of the limited desires of the Roman population Meaning: - "something, as extravagant entertainment, offered as an expedient means of pacifying discontent or diverting attention from a source of grievance" - more commonly used in attempt to regain public approval through diversion or distraction | 30 | |
| 4180719051 | Casanova | Origin: - 1888, first used to describe Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt, a famous debaucher - used to describe a man with "carnal adventures, connoisseur of seduction" Meaning: used to describe a woman's or young woman's lover | 31 | |
| 4180719052 | Crossing the Rubicon | Origin: Rubicon: river- boundary in Italy Julius Caesar led a single Roman military unit across to Rome broke the law on purpose since it was illegal to cross it Meaning: for an individual/ group committing itself to a risky course of action; to pass a point of no return | 32 | |
| 4180719053 | Fiddle While Rome Burns | Origin: main story- Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned other stories- Nero caused the fire & danced & sang while watching the city burn Meaning: to neglect priorities when it's important | 33 | |
| 4180719054 | Cassandra | Origin: - Daughter of Priam, last king of Troy, and Hecuba - Most beautiful daughter, but not a prophetess - Apollo was in love with her; promised her the power of prophecy - Apollo sought revenge in making Cassandra's prophecies were never believed Meaning: warnings/predictions that are dismissed | 34 | |
| 4180719055 | Gordian Knot | Origin: - Alexander the Great was shown Gordius' chariot - Chariot was attached to a pole with an intricate knot Tradition tells that the knot was only to be undone by the conqueror of Asia - Alexander cut the knot with his sword Meaning: a complicated problem solved by bold actions; solve a difficult problem quickly | 35 | |
| 4180719056 | Catch 22 | Origin: Book by by Joseph Heller - Pilots in WWII that were evaluated for mental sanity --if hoping to be found insane, demonstrates sanity by making the request Meaning: A paradoxical situation which can't be escaped from due to contradicting rules | 36 | |
| 4180719057 | Golden Calf | Origin: Exodus in the Bible -An idol worshipped by the Hebrews of Egypt in the time of Moses. After Moses was given the Ten Commandments, he came back to find people worshipping the same idol that they painted on tablets. Moses did not like that people were worshipping something other than God. Meaning: Some things should not be worshipped. | 37 | |
| 4180719058 | Loaves & Fishes | Origin: New Testament in the Bible Jesus Christ performed the miracle of feeding thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes and did so in front of five thousand people. Meaning: It is good to make the most out of things, even if you only have a small amount. | 38 | |
| 4180719059 | Brobdingnagian | Origin: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift The name of the land that Gulliver visited after inhabited by giants Meaning : Giant, enormous, or enlarged | 39 | |
| 4180719060 | Mrs. Grundy | Origin: Thomas Morton's play, Speed the Plough (1798). She showed up as a minor character but never actually showed up on stage. Modern Use: It's used to describe a person with an attitude of narrow-minded prudishness. | 40 | |
| 4180719061 | Pound of Flesh | Origin: Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Within the play, this allusion/phrase was used as a sort of payment for if Antonio's ships were lost at sea. Modern Use: It's used to describe someone's insistence on being repaid, even if the repayment will harm the person. | 41 | |
| 4180719062 | Achilles' Heel | Origin: Achilles was an indestructible fighter, however, the one place that he was weak to death was his heel because it was the only part that was not dipped in the river Styx Meaning: used to describe someone's one fatal weakness | 42 | |
| 4180719063 | Adonis | Origin: Greek mythology Adonis is an exceedingly beautiful man who two goddesses fall in love with. The two goddesses must share his time throughout the year Use now: Describes either a very handsome man or a man popular with women | 43 | |
| 4180719064 | Lot's Wife / Pillar of Salt | Origin: Biblical Book of Genesis Wife of Abraham's nephew, after being commanded to leave the city of Sodom and not to look back. She looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Meaning: to lag behind with longing | 44 | |
| 4180719065 | Pearls Before Swine | Origin: Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your ___________________________, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces" Meaning: basically the older version of "bros before hoes" "uteruses before dudereses" | 45 | |
| 4180719066 | Fifteen Minutes of Fame | Origin: Accredited to Andy Warhol who said, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes." Discrepancy: May have been photographer Nat Finkelstein responding, "Yeah, for about fifteen minutes" to Warhol saying, "everyone wants to be famous." Meaning: Receive a great deal of media attention for trivial matters. | 46 | |
| 4180719067 | Noble Savage | Origin: Theme frequently found in 18th and 19th century Romantic literature. Meaning: An idealized concept of uncivilized man, who symbolizes the innate goodness of one not exposed to the corrupting influences of civilization. | 47 | |
| 4180719068 | Read the Riot Act | Origin: Since the early 19th century we have used this allusion as a figurative phrase to describe attempts to calm groups of rowdies - along the same lines as 'you noisy louts, don't you know there are people here trying to sleep?'. Meaning: to reprimand rowdy characters and warn them to stop behaving badly | 48 | |
| 4180719069 | Waterloo | Origin: The 1815 Battle of Waterloo The battle was the final military action of French emperor Napoleon, in his last attempt to keep power. His troops were crushed by a coalition of European forces, forcing him to abdicate and accept exile for the second—and final—time. Meaning: has become a term referring to a decisive, crushing defeat of any sort | 49 |
