2a/the sword of DamoclesliteraryKILL a bad thing that might happen at any time 达摩克利斯之剑〔喻指随时可能发生的坏事〕
The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics.
这个条约好像一把达摩克利斯之剑悬在法国政坛之上。
Examples from the Corpus
a/the sword of Damocles• Indeed, a wingeddagger was the S.A.S. badge, originally conceived, it is said, as the sword of Damocles.• It's been hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles.
3.put somebody to the swordliteraryPMW to kill someone with a sword 用剑刺死某人
Examples from the Corpus
put somebody to the sword• The High Elfarmy fell on the besiegers of Lothern, putting them to the sword.
4.turn/beat swords into ploughsharesliterary to start using money, equipment, and skills for peacefulpurposes rather than for fighting 铸剑为犁;偃武修文