Flotsam and Jetsam:
This is a phrase from the maritime lingo.
They are the jumbled and medley of unrelated and trivial items almost like odds and ends. Found in an untidy manner.
The phrase has its origins from a ship wreckage, flotsam is the debris that floats atop the sea, while the jetsam is the objects that are dropped into the sea from a ship in distress.
- Please clean up your desk, there is so much stuff all sorts of flotsam and jetsam.
- My son’s room is a mess, I have no idea how he ends up with so much flotsam and jetsam.
Procrustean Bed:
When someone is forced to confirm to strict rules and regulations that we don’t like at all. Also means plan or scheme adopts harsh methods for confirming.
Procrustes was a thief and a character in a story from popular Greek mythology. Apparently, he would chop off people’s legs or stretch them beyond a limit to fit his bed. Procrustes was later killed by the Greek hero Theseus.
- I hated that boarding school there was so much syllabus to cover and they had such strict rules, it was such Procrustean bed.
- The new law introduced by the Governments puts people living in the outskirts at risk, and they find themselves on a Procrustean bed.
Faustian Bargain:
Meaning you would give up anything that is precious to obtain a material and worldly possession. In other words, selling your soul or making a deal with the devil.
The origin is that a Dr.Faustus made a pact with the devil to surrender his soul in exchange for all knowledge and magical powers.
- He has made a Faustian bargain with the organization for a lesser pay as he has been jobless for the last few years.
- She was forced to make a Faustian bargain to sacrifice her passion for the new job, as the family needs money.
