chalice
(tʃælɪs )
Word forms: chalices
1. countable noun
A chalice is a large gold or silver cup with a stem. Chalices are used to hold wine in the Christian service of Holy Communion.
2. poisoned chalice phrase
If you refer to a job or an opportunity as a poisoned chalice, you mean that it seems to be very attractive but you believe it will lead to failure.
He does not regard his new job as a poisoned chalice.
As the job comes with its own poisoned chalice, finding candidates will not be easy.
Image of chalice
© Lord Kuernyus, Shutterstock
Idioms:
a poisoned chalice [mainly British]
a job or an opportunity that seems to be very attractive but may in fact, lead to failure or a very unpleasant situation
The contract may yet prove to be a poisoned chalice.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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