Myths Mystery
🦶 an Achilles’ heel
A particular weakness in an otherwise strong person or system. In Greek mythology, Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel.
What fictional character has an obvious Achilles’ heel?
📺 a Truman Show moment
A moment when you feel as if your life is being watched or staged. It comes from the 1998 film The Truman Show.
What situation could make someone feel like they’re in The Truman Show?
🥊 throw in the towel
Admit defeat or give up. In boxing, a trainer can throw a towel into the ring to stop the fight.
In what situation is it actually sensible to throw in the towel?
💧🌊
a drop in the ocean
A very small amount compared with what is needed. It’s a metaphor comparing something tiny with the enormous size of an ocean.
Create your own sentence using the expression!
📈 move the needle
Make a noticeable difference or meaningful progress.
It comes from measuring instruments whose needles move when something changes.
What kind of action can really move the needle for a team?
🐴 a Trojan horse
Something that appears harmless or useful but secretly contains a threat or problem. In the Trojan War, Greek soldiers hid inside a wooden horse.
What could be a “Trojan horse” in the digital world?
👁️ Orwellian
involving surveillance, propaganda or authoritarian control
From George Orwell, especially 1984.
Why do you think such societies still exist and find their followers?
🎯 call the shots
Be the person who makes the important decisions. The expression is connected with shooting and the person controlling what happens.
In what situations is it useful to have one person calling the shots?
🎯🔨
hit the nail on the headTo say or do exactly the right thing; to identify something accurately.
It comes from the literal idea of hitting a nail exactly in the right place.
Create your own sentence using the expression!
🥫 open a can of worms
Create a complicated situation with many new problems.
What workplace topic could open a can of worms?
📦 a Pandora’s box
Something that creates many unexpected problems once started. In Greek mythology, Pandora opened a container releasing troubles into the world.
What everyday technology can sometimes open a Pandora’s box of problems?
💡 gaslighting
manipulating someone into doubting their own memory or perception
From Gas Light (1938 play / 1944 film), where a husband manipulates his wife into doubting reality.
What would be your reaction if you saw your friend being gaslighted by their partner?
🏇 on the home stretch
Be in the final stage of something. It comes from horse racing — the final section before the finish.
What are you currently on the home stretch with?
🧹⬇️
sweep sth under the rug
To hide or ignore a problem instead of dealing with it. The image comes from literally sweeping dirt under a carpet.
Create your own sentence using the expression!
🪜 move the goalposts
Change the rules, requirements or expectations during a process, making success harder to achieve.
It comes from sports, where moving the goalposts changes where players need to score.
If your manager moved the goalposts halfway through a project, how would you react?
🪨 a Sisyphean task
An endless and seemingly pointless task. Sisyphus was condemned to push a boulder uphill forever.
What everyday task could be described as Sisyphean?
👗 a Stepford wife
a woman perceived as excessively submissive, conventional or conformist
From Ira Levin’s 1972 novel The Stepford Wives.
What is your take on such a lifestyle?
🕵️ under the radar
To remain unnoticed or avoid attracting attention; not widely known or publicly discussed.
From radar technology: something that stays below the radar cannot be detected by it. The figurative use became common in the 20th century.
What’s something you’d like to keep under the radar?
🕳️🐇
go down a rabbit holeTo become deeply involved in something, often spending much more time on it than planned.
It comes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, where Alice follows the White Rabbit down a hole.
Create your own sentence using the expression!
🔥🌊 boil the ocean
Try to solve an impossibly broad problem.
If you saw someone trying to boil the ocean at work, what would you do?
⚔️ a Pyrrhic victory
A victory achieved at such a great cost that it is almost a defeat. King Pyrrhus won battles against Rome but suffered enormous losses.
What is an example of a Pyrrhic victory in sport, business or fiction?
🦈 jump the shark
Reach the point when a TV show, idea or trend starts becoming ridiculous or losing quality. It comes from a famous Happy Days scene in which Fonzie jumps over a shark.
Which TV show do you think went on for too long?
🌧️ Take a rain check
To postpone or decline an invitation for now, with the idea of doing it later.
The expression comes from American baseball, where spectators could get a “rain check” for a cancelled game.
💬 When was the last time you took a rain check on plans, and why?
🐷👀🎁
a pig in a poke
Something bought or accepted without knowing exactly what you’re getting. A “poke” was an old word for a bag.
Create your own sentence using the expression!
🍎 low-hanging fruit
An easy opportunity or task that can be dealt with quickly.
It comes from literally picking fruit that is easiest to reach.
What could be the low-hanging fruit when starting a new project?