Damocles

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. The sword of Damocles would prove how quickly the happiness would vanish.
  2. The oil embargo(=a trade barrier) on Iraq proved like a sword of Damocles.
    Please correct the above and comment.
    Thanks.
2
  1. The sword of Damocles would prove how quickly the happiness would vanish.
  • although this is grammatically acceptable it is highly doubtful that the statement would be correctly used within a longer piece. It does not demonstrate whether you understand how the term would actually be used, and it dfoes not appear from this sentence as if you do.
  1. The oil embargo on Iraq proved to be / was like a sword of Damocles.

bnc.bl.uk/saraWeb.php?qy=sword+o … ysubmit=Go

dictionary.cambridge.org/diction … f-damocles
dictionary.reference.com/browse/ … --damocles
thefreedictionary.com/sword+of+Damocles

Additional food for thought can be found here, where a Professor argues that the dictionary definitoions such as those posted above don’t go far enough.
npr.org/2011/08/19/139799434 … es-misused

3

Beeesneees,
‘Your happiness would vanish like the sword of Damocles hanging over your head.’
Is this sentence correct and meaningful?
Thanks.

4

No.
Please see the references.

Although you are currently very happy, the possibility of you losing everything you have gained is like the sword of Damocles over your head.