| 释义 |
Charybdis|kəˈrɪbdɪs|
[L.; a. Gr. χάρυβδις.]
A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily (now Calofaro), opposite the Italian rock Scylla. Used allusively of anything likely to cause shipwreck of life, etc., and esp. in combination with Scylla, of the danger of running into one evil or peril in seeking to avoid its opposite.
1597Bacon Coulers Good & Ev., Ess. (Arb.) 147 And contrarie the remedy of the one euill is the occasion and commencement of an other, as in Scilla and Charybdis. 1609Man in Moone (1849) 22 The very sinke of sensuality and poole of putrifaction; a Sylla to citizens, and Caribdis to countrie-men. 1679Plot Staffordsh. (1686) 72 If we consider what mighty Charybdes there are in the World. 1682Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. 87. 1860 All Y. Round 382 In avoiding the Scylla of the mud-bank we had all but stumbled upon the Charybdis of a dredging-machine. |