Greek Allusions-1 神話典故

Allusions of Greek Mythology

希臘神話典故







1. Pandora's box: a source of evils; a host of troubles


The U.S. government is inhibited by fear that retaliatory operations abroad could open a Pandora's box of terrorism in America.






2. Herculean task/labor: an extremely difficult job


While tackling the Herculean task, capitalism must demonstrate anew the daring and flexibility that were once its hallmark.






3. Hydra: a persistent evil or complicated problem that is not easily overcome


cf: Hydra-headed: having many heads, centers or branches


The situation in Africa is like the multi-headed Hydra. As soon as we get one crisis under control, another pops up.


The hydra-headed monster of the Carter-Mondale administration will fade from view and lose its political usefulness.






4. Clean up the Augean stables: to take drastic reform; to rid of corrupt practice


After the scandal of Taipei Tenth Credit Cooperative, the government authorities should clean up the Augean stables in banking and financial communities.






5. Achilles' heel: a weak point or a vulnerable spot


The record of waste and mismanagement is seen by some lawmakers as the Pentagon's Achilles' heel.






6. Hector: threaten; bluster; intimidate; bully


Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has mastered and now loves the intellectual savagery of off-the-cuff debate in Parliament. She is inclined to hector and lecture rather than persuade.






7. Trojan horse: trick; treachery; deception; an enemy or a subversive group within a country


Budget Director David Stockman was howled out by the President for calling Reaganomics nothing more than a Trojan horse for tax relief to the rich.






8. Odyssey: a long journey; a long wandering; an adventurous voyage


Why did Moses take his flock on an arid, roundabout 40-year, instead of heading directly along the Mediterranean coast to the Promised Land?






9. Lotus Island: a place of dreams and idleness


cf: lotus eater: one who enjoys a dreamy and indolent life or who lives in idle contentment


Australia is a lotus island, where leisure is the universal religion, and work is a detestable heresy.


Sanjay Gandhi's goal was to get away from India's lotus eater approach to politics and to bridge gap between the oxcart and the jet age.






10. Siren song: sweet and charming voice; enticing and bewitching song


Around the world, the siren song of socialism appears to be losing its lure.