The Holy Grail
Ultimate legendary prize
The Holy Grail is the cup or dish used by Jesus at the Last Supper, sought by medieval knights in Arthurian legend.
The quest for it represents a spiritual journey toward something sacred and elusive.
In common usage, a holy grail is any long-sought goal that promises transformation or ultimate success: Fusion power is the holy grail of clean energy.
The phrase often implies the goal may be unattainable.
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- sacred vesselConsecrated container for worship
- questSeeking journey for something
- ArthurianOf Camelot's mythology
- King ArthurLegendary British sovereign
knights · Galahad · Percival · Lancelot · Camelot · sacred · relic · cup · bloodline · crusade · legend · medieval · treasure · divine · Christ · Joseph of Arimathea · Last Supper · Indiana Jones
- Arthurian LegendKing Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, Camelot, Lancelot
- TennysonUlysses, Maud, Mariana, Guinevere, The Kraken
The Holy Grailcursed object
Item bearing supernatural malice
poisoned chalice · Pandora's box · the One Ring · forbidden fruit
The Holy Grailfool's errand
Hopeless, pointless task
wild goose chase · red herring · dead end · lost cause · Sisyphean task