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

a beautiful youth crowned with vines and ivy.
Those who imbibe too enthusiastically may be
termed sons of Bacchus or priests of Bacchus.
“Raphael’s face was found boldly executed on the
underside of the moulding board, and Bacchus on
the head of a beer barrel” (Louisa May Alcott,
Little Women, 1868–69). See also bacchanalia;
bacchante.
backroom boys People who work behind the
scenes, out of the public view, especially scientists
and technicians. <strong>The</strong> phrase dates to World War II,
when hundreds of such experts worked tirelessly
on radar and other innovations that might help the
Allied war effort. <strong>The</strong> ultimate origin of the term
lies in the song “See what the boys in the back
room will have,” made famous by marlene dietrich
in the fi lm Destry Rides Again (1939). “I think
you’d better be a fi nancial adviser—one of the
bank’s backroom boys” ( J. R. L. Anderson, Death
in the City, 1980).
back to square one Back at the very beginning of
a project, task, etc. <strong>The</strong> origins of this phrase are
much debated, but the most pop u lar theory is that
it alludes to early radio broadcasts of soccer
matches, in which listeners were provided with a
grid of the pitch, divided into numbered squares,
so that they could visualize where the action
described was taking place as the commentators
gave the number of the relevant square; after a
goal, play restarted in the middle, on square one.
“I took him back because I love him and can’t do
without him, so now I’m back to square one” (Sue
Sharpe, Falling for Love, 1987).
bad day at Black Rock A disappointing, even
disastrous state of affairs. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to a classic
1955 fi lm of the same title, starring Spencer Tracy
balkanization
as a stranger who incurs the wrath of the unwelcoming
residents of a remote township called
Black Rock when he starts to uncover the truth
behind a local murder. It was a bad day at Black Rock
when the band sacked their lead singer.
Baedeker (bidekb) A guide book. Karl Baedeker
(1801–59) was the German publisher of a series
of celebrated guidebooks that came to be widely
trusted by travelers around the world. During
World War II, commanders of the German air force
were rumored to be using the Baedeker guidebook
to the United Kingdom to decide which historic
British cities they should bomb in what
became known as “Baedeker raids.” In modern
usage, guidebooks and of any kind may be referred
to as “Baedekers.” “Don’t forget your Baedeker,” said
Terry, tossing Roger his guide to places of interest in
southern Canada.
Balaam’s ass (baylamz) Someone or something
that serves to remind a person of the correct way
to act. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to the biblical story of
Balaam, a Mesopotamian prophet who was commanded
by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites.
Balaam set out to do the king’s bidding, but
on the prompting of his talking donkey prophesied
instead future glory for them (as related at Numbers
22–23). People who follow a religion for reasons
of profi t or gain are sometimes dubbed
Balaamites. “ ‘By my hilt!’ cried the archer, ‘I
though I be not Balaam, yet I hold converse with
the very creature that spake to him’ ” (Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, <strong>The</strong> White Company, 1891).
balkanization (bolkbnizayshbn) <strong>The</strong> fragmentation
of a country, or ga ni za tion, etc., into smaller,
separate, and often warring parts. <strong>The</strong> term refers
to the countries of the Balkan region of southeast
37