sword of Damocles
Imminent looming threat
The sword of Damocles is a symbol of imminent danger amid apparent good fortune.
The phrase comes from Damocles, a courtier who envied his king's power until the king seated him at a feast with a sword hanging above by a single hair—demonstrating that privilege brings constant peril.
The threat of layoffs hung over the department like a sword of Damocles.
Unavoidable calamity approaching
- imminent dangerThreat about to occur
- perilSerious threat of harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- hang by a threadNearly falling apart
ominous · foreboding · inevitability · fate · cautionary tale · vulnerability · trepidation · dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- tensionStretched or strained state
fear · worry · angst · nervousness · suspense · trepidation · vigilance · hyperawareness
Ease of breaking
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- tenuousnessLack of strength or substance
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
transience · impermanence · volatility · risk · jeopardy · hazard · peril · delicacy
impending doom
Unavoidable calamity approaching
- imminent dangerThreat about to occur
- perilSerious threat of harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
hang by a thread · ominous · foreboding · inevitability · fate · cautionary tale · vulnerability · trepidation · dread · apprehension
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- uneaseMild persistent worry
tension · fear · worry · angst · nervousness · suspense · trepidation · vigilance · hyperawareness · paranoia
fragility
Ease of breaking
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- tenuousnessLack of strength or substance
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
uncertainty · transience · impermanence · volatility · risk · jeopardy · hazard · peril · delicacy · brittleness
tyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
rule · kingship · throne · court · privilege · luxury · corruption · abuse · ruler · tyrant
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, Pandora's box
- Greek mythologyZeus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon
- doomdoomsday, impending doom, doom and gloom, doomed, sense of doom
sword of Damoclespeace of mind
State without anxiety
security · safety · safe harbor · sanctuary · shelter
sword of Damoclessolid ground
Stable surface beneath
stable footing · charmed life · Midas touch · invincibility · impunity
sword of Damoclesbed of roses
State of luxurious ease
charmed life · golden parachute · ivory tower · life of Riley · clover
sword, swords, swordsman, broadsword, swordplay, longsword, swordsmanship, swordsmen, shortsword