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Weekly Allusions. Stealing Someone’s Thunder. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Weekly Allusions

Weekly Weekly AllusionsAllusions

Page 2: Weekly Allusions

Stealing Someone’s Stealing Someone’s ThunderThunder

In the seventeenth century,In the seventeenth century, playwright playwright John John Dennis invented the Dennis invented the sound effect of rattling a sound effect of rattling a sheet of time to mimic thundersheet of time to mimic thunder. He used this . He used this effect in one of his own plays, and the play was effect in one of his own plays, and the play was denounced by other playwrights and critics. denounced by other playwrights and critics. However, his sound effect was However, his sound effect was widely copiedwidely copied. . Frustrated, Dennis proclaimed that his rivals Frustrated, Dennis proclaimed that his rivals would not accept his play but were happy to would not accept his play but were happy to “steal my thunder”.“steal my thunder”.

To “steal someone’s thunder” is either to To “steal someone’s thunder” is either to take credit for the idea of take credit for the idea of anotheranother or to or to lessen the effectlessen the effect of another’s idea by of another’s idea by suggesting the suggesting the same idea firstsame idea first..

Ex. After Joe proposed his idea to his boss, he was Ex. After Joe proposed his idea to his boss, he was astonished that the boss stole his thunder and presented the astonished that the boss stole his thunder and presented the idea to the board as his own.idea to the board as his own.

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Witch HuntWitch Hunt

In In 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts1692, in Salem, Massachusetts, , hysteriahysteria about about supposed witches led to the arrest of many people, and supposed witches led to the arrest of many people, and the execution of twenty. Often, the accused were the execution of twenty. Often, the accused were simply social outcasts and were convicted on simply social outcasts and were convicted on flimsy flimsy evidenceevidence that could neither be proved nor disproved. that could neither be proved nor disproved.

A “witch hunt” refers to a A “witch hunt” refers to a campaign against a particular campaign against a particular group of peoplegroup of people, often those holding , often those holding unorthodox unorthodox opinionsopinions or behaving in an or behaving in an unconventional mannerunconventional manner..

Ex. Despite denials by athletes and repeated Ex. Despite denials by athletes and repeated testing for banned substances, some sports testing for banned substances, some sports writers continue the witch hunt.writers continue the witch hunt.

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Throw Down the GauntletThrow Down the Gauntlet In the days of In the days of knighthood and chivalryknighthood and chivalry, if a knight , if a knight

wanted to wanted to challenge another knight to a duelchallenge another knight to a duel, he , he would throw down his would throw down his heavy gloveheavy glove, or “gauntlet.” If , or “gauntlet.” If the challenged knight picked up the gauntlet, this the challenged knight picked up the gauntlet, this indicated that he had accepted the challenge.indicated that he had accepted the challenge.

““Throwing down the gauntlet” refers to Throwing down the gauntlet” refers to issuing issuing a challengea challenge, especially issuing that challenge , especially issuing that challenge in a in a dramatic mannerdramatic manner..

Ex. Our parents threw down the gauntlet, Ex. Our parents threw down the gauntlet, offering fifty dollars to any of use who could go offering fifty dollars to any of use who could go an entire week without watching TV or playing an entire week without watching TV or playing video games.video games.

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The MusesThe Muses In In Greek mythologyGreek mythology, the Muses were , the Muses were nine nine

goddessesgoddesses who presided over who presided over the artsthe arts. They . They gave gave inspiration to mortalsinspiration to mortals. Typically, an . Typically, an epicepic begins with an invocation to the Muse, in which begins with an invocation to the Muse, in which the poet asks the Muses to inspire him as he the poet asks the Muses to inspire him as he writes or sings his story.writes or sings his story.

Today, a “Muse” is someone’s Today, a “Muse” is someone’s source of source of inspirationinspiration, especially in , especially in artistic, creative artistic, creative endeavors.endeavors.

Ex. It is common for a fashion designer to Ex. It is common for a fashion designer to select a particular woman as a Muse, keeping select a particular woman as a Muse, keeping her in mind as he or she designs a new line of her in mind as he or she designs a new line of clothing.clothing.

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Tower of BabelTower of Babel According to the According to the Book of GenesisBook of Genesis, Noah’s , Noah’s

descendants decided to build descendants decided to build a tower that a tower that would reach Heaven itselfwould reach Heaven itself. Concerned that . Concerned that mankind was becoming too powerful, God mankind was becoming too powerful, God decided to introduce decided to introduce different languagesdifferent languages so so that the people that the people could not understand each could not understand each otherother and thus could not complete the tower. and thus could not complete the tower.

““Tower or Babel” or simply “Babel” can refer to any Tower or Babel” or simply “Babel” can refer to any noisy confusionnoisy confusion. This confusion may not be . This confusion may not be caused by the presence of different languages.caused by the presence of different languages.

Ex. It was like Babel on the first day of summer camp, Ex. It was like Babel on the first day of summer camp, with friends who hadn’t seen each other for a year with friends who hadn’t seen each other for a year reuniting and seemingly all talking at once.reuniting and seemingly all talking at once.

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BedlamBedlam ““Bedlam” was a popular Bedlam” was a popular nicknamenickname for London’s for London’s

Hospital of St. Mary of BethlehemHospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, a , a mental mental hospitalhospital founded in the fourteenth century. founded in the fourteenth century. Because the patients were simply housed Because the patients were simply housed there with little treatment, they tended to there with little treatment, they tended to wander the halls talking to themselves or wander the halls talking to themselves or screaming and fighting with each other.screaming and fighting with each other.

““Bedlam” has come to mean Bedlam” has come to mean wildly chaoticwildly chaotic or or extremely raucous and noisyextremely raucous and noisy..

Ex. It is bedlam in the halls after the final bell Ex. It is bedlam in the halls after the final bell right on the last day of school before summer right on the last day of school before summer vacation.vacation.

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The Handwriting on the WallThe Handwriting on the Wall According to the According to the Book of DanielBook of Daniel, Belshazzar, , Belshazzar,

the King of Babylon, gave a great banquet, at the King of Babylon, gave a great banquet, at which the guests praised the gods of silver, which the guests praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, wood, iron, and stone. Suddenly, gold, bronze, wood, iron, and stone. Suddenly, a a human hand appearedhuman hand appeared and wrote mysterious and wrote mysterious words on the wall. Daniel words on the wall. Daniel translated the translated the writingwriting, saying it prophesied that Belshazzar’s , saying it prophesied that Belshazzar’s reign was overreign was over. That night, the king was killed.. That night, the king was killed.

The phrase “handwriting on the wall” refers to The phrase “handwriting on the wall” refers to an an indication that doom or misfortune is indication that doom or misfortune is comingcoming..

Ex. I took my boss’s suggestion that I might want to Ex. I took my boss’s suggestion that I might want to start updating my resume to be the handwriting on the start updating my resume to be the handwriting on the wall.wall.

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Albatross Around One’s Albatross Around One’s NeckNeck In In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,”“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a poema poem

by Samuel Taylor by Samuel Taylor ColeridgeColeridge, a sailor , a sailor shoots an shoots an albatrossalbatross, a bird considered to be a good , a bird considered to be a good omen. As punishment, the sailor is forced to omen. As punishment, the sailor is forced to wear the carcass of the albatross around his wear the carcass of the albatross around his neckneck..

An “albatross around a person’s neck” is a An “albatross around a person’s neck” is a burdensome, ongoing problemburdensome, ongoing problem..

Ex. Although we have an outstanding step Ex. Although we have an outstanding step team, our biggest rival continues to be the team, our biggest rival continues to be the albatross around our necks. We haven’t won a albatross around our necks. We haven’t won a game against them yet.game against them yet.

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JuggernautJuggernaut ““Juggernaut” is the name of a Juggernaut” is the name of a Hindu deityHindu deity. His . His

image is carried in an annual procession on a image is carried in an annual procession on a large cartlarge cart. According to legend, devotees . According to legend, devotees threw themselves in front of the cart and were threw themselves in front of the cart and were crushedcrushed, believing this guaranteed immediate , believing this guaranteed immediate entry to Paradise.entry to Paradise.

A “juggernaut” is any force, A “juggernaut” is any force, especially a especially a destructive forcedestructive force, that , that defies oppositiondefies opposition..

Ex. Some people see technology as a Ex. Some people see technology as a juggernaut that has taken over our lives; we juggernaut that has taken over our lives; we are so much at its mercy that when computers are so much at its mercy that when computers go down, we are practically helpless.go down, we are practically helpless.

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Sold Down the RiverSold Down the River In In nineteenth-century Americanineteenth-century America, during the days , during the days

of of slaveryslavery, sometimes wealthy homeowners , sometimes wealthy homeowners would would sell their house servantssell their house servants to to plantation plantation owners in the Southowners in the South. Thus, the servants were . Thus, the servants were “sold down the (“sold down the (MississippiMississippi) river.” The life of a ) river.” The life of a house servant was far more pleasant than the house servant was far more pleasant than the life of a slave on a plantation, so the sold life of a slave on a plantation, so the sold servants would naturally feel servants would naturally feel betrayedbetrayed..

To be “sold down the river” is to be To be “sold down the river” is to be betrayed or betrayed or misledmisled, especially by someone , especially by someone trustedtrusted..

Ex. I felt my friend sold me down the river when Ex. I felt my friend sold me down the river when she decided to audition for the part she knew I she decided to audition for the part she knew I was dying to have.was dying to have.

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NemesisNemesis Nemesis was the Nemesis was the Greek goddess of vengeance Greek goddess of vengeance

and retributionand retribution. She punished people for . She punished people for wrongdoing, especially for wrongdoing, especially for excessive prideexcessive pride..

A person’s “nemesis” is that which A person’s “nemesis” is that which causes his causes his or her downfallor her downfall, or the term can refer to the , or the term can refer to the downfall itself.downfall itself.

Ex. The cyclist considered that particular Ex. The cyclist considered that particular stretch of mountain to be his nemesis, costing stretch of mountain to be his nemesis, costing him a racing victory year after year.him a racing victory year after year.

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ScapegoatScapegoat According to the According to the Book of LeviticusBook of Leviticus, each year on , each year on

the the Day of AtonementDay of Atonement, a priest would , a priest would symbolically symbolically place the sins of the Israelites on a goatplace the sins of the Israelites on a goat and then and then send it out into the wilderness, send it out into the wilderness, taking the sins of taking the sins of the people with itthe people with it..

A scapegoat is a person who is A scapegoat is a person who is blamed or blamed or punished for someone else’s misdeedspunished for someone else’s misdeeds. At times . At times an entire group or race can become a scapegoat, an entire group or race can become a scapegoat, such as the Jews during the Holocaust.such as the Jews during the Holocaust.

Ex. In Fahrenheit 451, when the police fail to capture Ex. In Fahrenheit 451, when the police fail to capture Montag, they turn their attention to the pursuit of an Montag, they turn their attention to the pursuit of an innocent man, making him the scapegoat for Montag’s innocent man, making him the scapegoat for Montag’s illegal possession of books.illegal possession of books.

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Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold A A military leadermilitary leader during the during the American American

RevolutionRevolution, Benedict Arnold served with , Benedict Arnold served with distinction, but later became distinction, but later became traitoroustraitorous. . Needing money and resenting the promotions Needing money and resenting the promotions of others, Arnold agreed to of others, Arnold agreed to surrender a key fort surrender a key fort to the Britishto the British in exchange for a British military in exchange for a British military commission and a monetary payment. When commission and a monetary payment. When an envoy carrying messages between Arnold an envoy carrying messages between Arnold and the British was captured, Arnold’s plot was and the British was captured, Arnold’s plot was revealed. He escaped to the British, and lived revealed. He escaped to the British, and lived the rest of his life in Britain.the rest of his life in Britain.

A “Benedict Arnold” is a A “Benedict Arnold” is a traitortraitor..

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Murphy’s LawMurphy’s Law This This sayingsaying, originating in the 1940s, is , originating in the 1940s, is

as follows: “as follows: “If anything can go wrong, it If anything can go wrong, it willwill.”.”

People often cite “Murphy’s Law” People often cite “Murphy’s Law” when when something goes wrongsomething goes wrong and there is a and there is a sense of inevitabilitysense of inevitability about it. about it.

Ex. After five beautiful, sunny days in a Ex. After five beautiful, sunny days in a row, of course Murphy’s Law kicked in row, of course Murphy’s Law kicked in the day of the picnic, and we were forced the day of the picnic, and we were forced to cancel it because of thunderstorms.to cancel it because of thunderstorms.

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Philistines/PhilistinismPhilistines/Philistinism In the In the Old TestamentOld Testament, the Philistines were , the Philistines were

enemies of the Israelitesenemies of the Israelites. In a famous biblical . In a famous biblical story, story, DavidDavid successfully fought the successfully fought the giant giant Philistine warrior, GoliathPhilistine warrior, Goliath..

In modern usage, “philistine” refers to a person In modern usage, “philistine” refers to a person with with no appreciation for cultureno appreciation for culture and whose and whose tastes are commonplacetastes are commonplace. Such an attitude is . Such an attitude is referred to as “philistinism.referred to as “philistinism.

Ex. Sandra was pleasantly surprised when her Ex. Sandra was pleasantly surprised when her boyfriend surprised her with tickets to the boyfriend surprised her with tickets to the opera; she often teased him about being a opera; she often teased him about being a philistine whose idea of culture was to spend philistine whose idea of culture was to spend the evening watching sports.the evening watching sports.

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Freudian SlipFreudian Slip Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud was an was an Austrian physician and Austrian physician and

psychotherapistpsychotherapist whose work centered around the whose work centered around the role of the role of the subconscious mind in human behaviorsubconscious mind in human behavior. . The term “Freudian slip” comes from Freud.The term “Freudian slip” comes from Freud.

A “Freudian slip” is an A “Freudian slip” is an unintentional or accidental unintentional or accidental errorerror, either in speech or action that apparently , either in speech or action that apparently reveals one’s subconscious thoughts or desiresreveals one’s subconscious thoughts or desires ..

Ex. In an old cartoon in The New Yorker Ex. In an old cartoon in The New Yorker magazine, a king sits his throne and, when the magazine, a king sits his throne and, when the queen enters the room, says, “Good morning queen enters the room, says, “Good morning beheaded, er…beloved!” Of course, the reader beheaded, er…beloved!” Of course, the reader recognizes this as a Freudian slip. recognizes this as a Freudian slip.

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MethuselahMethuselah Methuselah is the Methuselah is the oldest of the patriarchs in the oldest of the patriarchs in the

BibleBible. He lived to be . He lived to be 969 years old969 years old..

The term “Methuselah” has come to be used The term “Methuselah” has come to be used proverbially to refer to an proverbially to refer to an extremely old personextremely old person..

Ex. If I live to be as old as Methuselah, I will Ex. If I live to be as old as Methuselah, I will never understand how that horrible film was never understand how that horrible film was nominated for an Academy Award.nominated for an Academy Award.

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Holy GrailHoly Grail In In Medieval legendMedieval legend, the Holy Grail was an , the Holy Grail was an object of object of

a questa quest. It was supposedly the . It was supposedly the cup from which cup from which Jesus drank at the Last SupperJesus drank at the Last Supper. The grail became . The grail became associated with the associated with the legends of King Arthur and the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableKnights of the Round Table. For the knights, the . For the knights, the Holy Grail represented Holy Grail represented perfectionperfection and was and was constantly sought after.constantly sought after.

A “Holy Grail” is an object that is A “Holy Grail” is an object that is extremely extremely desirable or valuabledesirable or valuable and which is attainable only and which is attainable only after a after a long and difficult questlong and difficult quest..

Ex. For teams in the National Hockey League, the Ex. For teams in the National Hockey League, the Stanley Cup is the equivalent of the Holy Grail.Stanley Cup is the equivalent of the Holy Grail.

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Pass the BuckPass the Buck In pokerIn poker, a “buck” was a , a “buck” was a marker that was passed to the marker that was passed to the

person whose turn it was to dealperson whose turn it was to deal. President . President Harry Harry TrumanTruman kept a sign on his desk which read, “The Buck kept a sign on his desk which read, “The Buck Stops Here.”Stops Here.”

To “pass the buck” is to To “pass the buck” is to shift responsibility (and often shift responsibility (and often blame) to another personblame) to another person. Thus, President Truman’s . Thus, President Truman’s sign meant that he was willing to accept the ultimate sign meant that he was willing to accept the ultimate responsibility for matters of concern to the country and responsibility for matters of concern to the country and would not try to pass that responsibility or blame to would not try to pass that responsibility or blame to others.others.

Ex. Rather than face the angry crowd herself, the major Ex. Rather than face the angry crowd herself, the major passed the buck to a spokesperson, who then had to passed the buck to a spokesperson, who then had to try to appease the citizens and respond to their try to appease the citizens and respond to their questions and complaints.questions and complaints.

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Phoenix/Rising from the Phoenix/Rising from the AshesAshes

The phoenix was a The phoenix was a mythological birdmythological bird that was that was one of a kindone of a kind. The bird lived for . The bird lived for five or six five or six hundred yearshundred years, after which it would , after which it would burn itself burn itself to death and then rise from its own ashesto death and then rise from its own ashes as a as a youthful bird ready to live another life span.youthful bird ready to live another life span.

The phoenix has come to The phoenix has come to symbolize rebirth or symbolize rebirth or resurrectionresurrection and “rising from one’s own ashes” and “rising from one’s own ashes” can describe can describe surmounting great obstaclessurmounting great obstacles..

Ex. After successfully battling cancer, Lance Ex. After successfully battling cancer, Lance Armstrong cam back, phoenix- like, to win the Armstrong cam back, phoenix- like, to win the Tour de France five consecutive times.Tour de France five consecutive times.

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