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Sisyphus for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'sɪsəfəs

What does Sisyphus really mean?

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Sisyphus is a word that comes from Greek mythology, which is a collection of stories that people from ancient Greece used to tell to explain things that they didn't understand. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king who did something really bad and was punished by the gods. His punishment was to push a big rock up a hill, but every time he almost got the rock to the top, it would roll back down again. So poor Sisyphus had to keep pushing the rock up the hill over and over and over again, for eternity!

Now, when people talk about Sisyphus or use the word Sisyphus, they are usually referring to this story and the idea of doing a task that seems never-ending and futile. It's like when you try really hard to do something, but no matter what you do, it never gets finished or it never works out the way you want it to. It can be really frustrating and make you feel like you're stuck in a never-ending cycle, just like Sisyphus pushing that rock up the hill.

So, when someone says "Oh, I feel like Sisyphus!" they are saying that they feel like they are stuck in a situation where they have to keep doing something over and over again, with no end in sight and no progress being made. It's a way of expressing frustration and the feeling of being trapped in a never-ending loop.

Definition:

The word "Sisyphus" can have two main definitions. First, it can refer to the character from Greek mythology, Sisyphus, who was punished by the gods to push a big rock up a hill for eternity. Second, it can be used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone feels trapped in a never-ending cycle of doing something without making any progress or achieving their goal.

So, the next time you hear someone say "I feel like Sisyphus," you'll know they are talking about feeling frustrated and stuck in a task that seems endless and futile, just like poor Sisyphus pushing that rock up the hill.

Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Moore on 2023-10-28 18:04:40

Sisyphus In a sentece

Learn how to use Sisyphus inside a sentece

  • Imagine you have to keep pushing a huge rock up a tall hill, but every time you almost reach the top, the rock rolls back down and you have to start all over again. That's what Sisyphus had to do - he was doomed to this never-ending task.
  • Pretend you are playing a game where you have to keep filling up a bucket with water, but just when you think it's almost full, the water spills out and you have to start filling it again. This is similar to what Sisyphus experienced with the rock.
  • Think about a time when you were trying to organize your toys, but no matter how many times you sorted them, they always ended up messy again. Sisyphus faced a similar challenge with his never-ending task.
  • Have you ever helped out in the garden and pulled out the weeds, only to see them grow back again the next day? That's a little bit like what Sisyphus went through - his work was never done.
  • Imagine you are trying to build a sandcastle at the beach, but every time you make progress, a wave crashes and ruins it all. Sisyphus had a similar struggle - he could never complete his task.

Sisyphus Instances

Words that the original word is an example of.

Sisyphus Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.

Sisyphus Regions

Regions where the word is used.