1. an apple of discord

any subject of disagreement and contention， the root of the trouble， dispute不和之因；祸根

eg： he throwing us an apple of discord， we soon quarreled again.

The dispute about inheriting estate formed an apple of discord between them

This problem seem to be an apple of discord between the Soviet union and the USA.

2. The heel of Achilles/the Achilles‘heel

a week point in sth that is otherwise without fault； the weakest spot

eg：

The shortage of fortitude is his heel of Achilles.

His Achilles‘heel was his pride—he would get very angry if anyone criticized his work.

English might be his Achilles‘heel.

3.Helen of Troy：

a beauty who ruins her country. A terrible disaster brought by somebody or sth you like best.

eg： It is unfair that historians always attribute the fall of kingdoms to Helen of Troy.

She didn‘t think of the beautiful umbrella bought the day before should become a Helen of Troy in her family. Because of this she and her husband quarreled for a long time.

4.The Trojan horse：

the hidden danger； the covert wreckers； to engage in underhand activities

The superpowers are always sending the Trojan Horses to many countries in the world.

They are defeated only because of the Trojan horse to many countries in the world.

They are defeated only because of the Trojan horse in their country. 5.Greek Gifts：

a gift with some sinister purpose of the enemy. A gift sent in order to murder somebody. = when the fox preaches， take care of your geese.

1.he is always buying you expensive clothes， I‘m afraid they are Greek gifts for you.

2.Comrades， be on guard against the Greek gifts.

6.A Penelope‘s web， the web of Penelope：

a chaste woman， a Penelope‘s web， the tactics of delaying sth on purpose； the task that can never be finished.

1. Mr. Jones made a long speech at the meeting. Everyone else though it a Penelope‘s web.

7.Swan Song： black swan. A last or fare well appearance； the last work before death.

1. all the tickets have been sold for the singer‘s performance in London this week——the public clearly believes that this will be her swan song.

2. The Tempest was Shakespeare‘s swan song in 1612.

3. before turning over the gavel， he delivered the swan song as chairman of the board.

4. this building turned out to be the swan song of Victorian architecture.

8.Win/gain laurels：

to win reputation； to acquire honor.

9.To look to one‘s laurels：

to beware of losing one‘s reputation； to keep one’s record from being beaten by others.卫冕