The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

Cressida
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and half fi sh. “God alone knew what she must look
like—a creature from the black lagoon probably—
and suddenly, unexpectedly, she began to chuckle”
(Emma Richmond, A Stranger’s Trust, 1991).
Cressida See troilus and cressida.
Cretan bull See labors of hercules.
Crichton, Admirable See admirable crichton.
Crippen, Doctor See doctor crippen.
critical mass <strong>The</strong> point at which a buildup of
elements triggers a par tic u lar event. <strong>The</strong> allusion
is to nuclear physics, in which the term refers to
the amount of material needed to set in motion a
sustained nuclear chain reaction. He hoped to
build up a critical mass of support that would make his
claim to the candidacy impossible to resist.
Crockett, Davy See davy crockett.
crocodile tears Insincere, hypocritical tears. <strong>The</strong>
allusion is to the traditional story that the crocodile
makes pitiful sobbing sounds to deceive its
prey into coming close enough to be snatched up
in its jaws, a practice mentioned in William Shakespeare’s
play Henry VI, Part II (1590): “As the
mournful crocodile / With sorrow snares relenting
passengers.” <strong>The</strong> crocodile is also said to
continue weeping as it consumes its prey, a belief
possibly inspired by the fact that a gland in the top
of the crocodile’s mouth releases tears while the
creature is eating. “In a few days Riddle’s body
might be found and the two women would almost
certainly arrange an elaborate funeral which they
would attend and shed a few crocodile tears”
(W. J. Burley, Wycliffe and the Scapegoat, 1987).
Croesus See as rich as croesus.
Cronos (kronus) Personifi cation of time. Cronos
(also rendered as Cronus or Kronos) was identifi
ed in Greek mythology as the youn gest of the
Titans, a son of Uranus and Gaea and the equivalent
of the Roman Saturn. Entrusted with the
government of earth, he presided over a golden
age. He devoured his own children by Rhea
because of a prophecy that one of them would
overthrow him but failed to kill his son Zeus, who
tricked him into disgorging his siblings. He was
defeated in battle by his offspring and imprisoned
in Tartarus. <strong>The</strong>y hoped to get to the ancient ruins in
time to see the dawn, but it seemed that Cronos had
decreed against them as the sky was already growing
pink to the east.
crooked shall be made straight Things will be
made right in the end. <strong>The</strong> phrase appears in Isaiah
40:4, which foretells how all will be made well at
the coming of the Messiah: “<strong>The</strong> crooked shall be
made straight, and the rough places plain.” It is
also quoted in the New Testament in Luke 3:5. It is
hoped that through the introduction of these new standards
the crooked shall be made straight and per formance
will be improved across the board.
Crosby, Bing See bing crosby.
crossing of the Red Sea A miraculous escape,
especially one made with divine assistance. <strong>The</strong>
allusion is to the crossing of the Red Sea by the
Israelites from Egypt to Sinai, under the guidance
of Moses. According to the biblical narrative, the
waters of the Red Sea parted at Moses’ command
but closed behind them, blocking the Egyptians
who followed in pursuit (Exodus 14:21–30). A
path through the rain suddenly opened up for them and