Definition of Damoclean in English:
Damoclean
adjectiveˌdaməˈkliːənˌdæməˈkliən
Threatening and precarious.
the parties charged are left in the Damoclean situation of never knowing when an old charge may spring back to life
Example sentencesExamples
- Something perhaps a hundred times worse still hangs over us, but not the Damoclean existential threat the real zealots want.
- The root causes of the problem lie in the decision to build a new stadium and the Damoclean debt hanging over the club as a result.
- The financial markets have roared back to only mirror the same Damoclean state that existed just before the 2008 crash.
- But with Brussels demanding action against the disease and the Damoclean threat of a ban on exports still suspended above the livestock sector, the demand for action is ever more urgent.
- The narrow 'Yes' side defeat left a Damoclean uncertainty about independence and its consequences hanging over the economy of Quebec for several years.
Phrases
Used to refer to an extremely precarious and threatening situation.
we forget that just above our heads hangs the Damoclean sword of our own design
Example sentencesExamples
- Almost all market participants seem to be deferring investment decisions as the eurozone Damoclean Sword hangs high over everyone.
- The development of a new influenza pandemic continues to threaten mankind as a Damoclean sword.
- I ask if it's something of a Damoclean sword, being "the greatest living crime writer"; that can't be too relaxing, can it?
- Tibet and the Himalayas are increasingly living under the Damoclean sword of climate change impacts.
- By removing this Damoclean sword hanging over the modern financial system, policymakers could score an epic financial stability victory.
Definition of Damoclean in US English:
Damoclean
adjectiveˌdaməˈklēənˌdæməˈkliən
Threatening and precarious.
the parties charged are left in the Damoclean situation of never knowing when an old charge may spring back to life
Example sentencesExamples
- The financial markets have roared back to only mirror the same Damoclean state that existed just before the 2008 crash.
- The root causes of the problem lie in the decision to build a new stadium and the Damoclean debt hanging over the club as a result.
- Something perhaps a hundred times worse still hangs over us, but not the Damoclean existential threat the real zealots want.
- But with Brussels demanding action against the disease and the Damoclean threat of a ban on exports still suspended above the livestock sector, the demand for action is ever more urgent.
- The narrow 'Yes' side defeat left a Damoclean uncertainty about independence and its consequences hanging over the economy of Quebec for several years.
Phrases
Used to refer to an extremely precarious and threatening situation.
we forget that just above our heads hangs the Damoclean sword of our own design
Example sentencesExamples
- Almost all market participants seem to be deferring investment decisions as the eurozone Damoclean Sword hangs high over everyone.
- Tibet and the Himalayas are increasingly living under the Damoclean sword of climate change impacts.
- I ask if it's something of a Damoclean sword, being "the greatest living crime writer"; that can't be too relaxing, can it?
- The development of a new influenza pandemic continues to threaten mankind as a Damoclean sword.
- By removing this Damoclean sword hanging over the modern financial system, policymakers could score an epic financial stability victory.