Literary and historical idioms

Idioms that come from history, myth and literature and appear in quality journalism and fiction.

20 cardsby Grove EnglishAdded 9 Oct 2026

Try this set without an account

Study the first 5 of 20 cards here. With an account you study all of them, your progress is kept, and the marks you make now go into it.

a Pyrrhic victory
a win that costs so much that it is hardly worth winning
пиррова победа
to damn with faint praise
to praise so weakly that it sounds like criticism
сдержанной похвалой выразить неодобрение
a poisoned chalice
a job or honour that seems attractive but is likely to bring trouble
отравленная чаша, подарок с подвохом
hoist with your own petard
harmed by the very plan you made to harm others
попасться в собственную ловушку
to throw down the gauntlet
to challenge someone openly
бросить вызов
15 more cards after you sign in
- a red herring
- to cut the Gordian knot
- an albatross around your neck
- to sail close to the wind
- to have an axe to grind
- to steal someone's thunder
- a moot point
- to rest on your laurels
- a double-edged sword
- to tilt at windmills
- a Trojan horse
- to fiddle while Rome burns
- a hostage to fortune
- to grasp the nettle
- a busman's holiday