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

Alecto
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with scandalous exploits in the casinos and brothels of
Paris.
Alecto See furies.
Aldershot (oldbshot) <strong>The</strong> British military establishment.
<strong>The</strong> town of Aldershot in Hampshire has
been home to one of the largest British army
camps since 1854. I’m not sure what Aldershot will
make of the decision to make substantial cuts in the
lower ranks. See also sandhurst.
Alexander the Great (alekszander) Archetype of
a great military commander. Alexander the Great
(356–323 b.c.) was the son of Philip II of Macedon
and studied as a youth in Athens under Aristotle.
He became king of Macedon at 20 and soon
established a reputation as a brilliant military leader,
conquering Greece (336 b.c.), Egypt (331 b.c.),
and the Persian Empire (328 b.c.) before his premature
death from fever at the age of 32. He was
well known for treating any women who became
his prisoners with respect, and the continence of
Alexander acquired proverbial status. <strong>The</strong> president
appears to think himself Alexander the Great, but
his critics prefer to liken him to Donald Duck.
Alf Garnett See archie bunker.
Ali, Muhammad See muhammad ali.
Ali Baba See open sesame.
Alice in Wonderland Fanciful or fantastic in
nature. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to the classic children’s book
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel
through the looking- glass (1872) by Lewis
Carroll, which depict the extraordinary adventures
of a young girl in illogical fantasy worlds that she
unwittingly enters. In modern usage, if something
is described as “Alice in Wonderland,” it is usually
with negative overtones. <strong>The</strong> committee’s decision is
completely unrealistic, totally Alice in Wonderland.
all animals are equal, but some animals are more
equal than others All human beings are entitled
to the same rights and privileges, but some will
always claim they have a special right to preferential
treatment. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to George Orwell’s
satire animal farm (1945), in which this is one of
the slogans that the pigs use to defend their superior
lifestyle before less privileged animals. Sometimes
shortened to some are more equal than
others, the slogan is often used to comment on a
situation in which certain people are perceived to
enjoy more privileges than others. As far as tax
relief goes, it seems that all animals are equal, but some
animals are more equal than others.
Allan Quatermain (kwortbmayn) A rugged hero,
especially one with long experience of Africa. <strong>The</strong>
allusion is to the hero of that name in the adventure
novels of H. Rider Haggard (1856–1925),
including the best- seller King Solomon’s Mines
(1886). His extensive experience of the dangers
of the African interior made him a capable guide
for the various Eu ro pe ans drawn to unknown
regions of the African continent and in many ways
established the model that de cades later produced
indiana jones. Her father had spent his life in the
Australian outback and had all the qualities of a grizzled
antipodean Allan Quatermain.
all fl esh is grass See fl esh is grass.
all for one and one for all Each individual will aid
his or her fellows, just as he or she in turn can rely
upon their aid. This was the slogan of the heroes of