Sword of Damocles

What does the idiom “Sword of Damocles” mean?

Definition:

Something that causes a feeling of constant threat.

For example:

“Layoffs have been a sword of Damocles at this company for so long that most people are already looking for new jobs.”

Notes:

This idiom comes from an ancient Greek tale about a sword suspended by a single hair. It’s often used with the phrase “hanging over.”

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