• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “the sword of Damocles,” this idiom refers to an ever-present, looming threat or a precarious situation that could turn disastrous at any moment. It is used when someone is in a position of power or success but faces a constant danger that overshadows their achievements. It is a formal expression frequently found in journalism, history, and literature.

  Vocabulary

  • miecz — sword
  • zagrożenie — threat / danger
  • wisieć — to hang

  Grammar note

  'Damoklesa' is the genitive form of the Greek name 'Damokles.' In Polish, foreign names ending in -es often take this -esa ending to indicate possession.

  Cultural context

  This originates from a Greek legend where a courtier named Damocles was allowed to sit on a throne, only to realize a sword was hanging above his head by a single horsehair. It is a sophisticated way to describe systemic risks in modern Polish.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!