IdiomThe Absurd
English
EnglishAugean stables
Meaning: An extremely filthy, corrupt, or morally decayed place or situation that seems impossible to clean up.
Example: “The new mayor called the corrupt housing office an Augean stables that needed a complete cleanup.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: Nettoyer les écuries d'Augias Literally: To clean the Augean stables
Origin: From classical mythology: King Augeas owned filthy stables housing thousands of cattle, uncleaned for thirty years; Heracles was tasked with cleaning them as a labor.
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- turn on one's heel To suddenly depart or walk away, often in a dramatic or dismissive manner.
- sugarcoat the pill To make something unpleasant more palatable or easier to accept.
- ace up one's sleeve A hidden advantage or secret resource kept in reserve to use when needed.
- what's eating you What is bothering or irritating you?
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