
IdiomDaily Life
English
a Herculean task
Meaning: An extremely difficult job requiring huge effort.
Example: “Cleaning up the river after the flood was a Herculean task.”
Origin: From the Twelve Labors of Hercules in Greek myth, including cleaning the Augean stables. The adjective is found in English from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Un travail de Titan Literally: A Titan's labor
More English idioms
- a stab in the back A betrayal by someone one trusted.
- the light at the end of the tunnel A sign that a long, difficult period is ending.
- freeze one's butt off To be extremely cold.
- be in clover To live in comfort and luxury.
- go downhill To get steadily worse.
- hightail it To leave in a great hurry.
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