lazarus
C2literary, journalistic, religious
Definition
Meaning
A person restored to life; a biblical figure raised from the dead by Jesus.
Used to denote a remarkable recovery, a sudden revival from a hopeless state, or a person who unexpectedly returns after being presumed dead or finished.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a proper noun with strong cultural and religious connotations. Used metaphorically in secular contexts to describe dramatic comebacks, resurrections, or revivals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the biblical and metaphorical senses.
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of miraculous recovery or rebirth.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, found in similar literary, journalistic, and religious contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Proper Noun] (requires no direct objects or complements)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pull a Lazarus (to make a seemingly impossible recovery)”
- “a Lazarus moment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a company or stock making an unexpected, dramatic recovery from near-bankruptcy or obsolescence.
Academic
Used in theological studies, literary analysis, and historical texts discussing resurrection motifs.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used humorously or dramatically for a person who recovers from illness or returns after a long absence.
Technical
In medicine, 'Lazarus syndrome' refers to spontaneous return of circulation after failed resuscitation. In computing, 'Lazarus project' refers to reviving obsolete software/hardware.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company managed to Lazarus its way out of administration.
American English
- The campaign was lazarus-ed back to life with a huge last-minute donation.
adverb
British English
- The project was revived, quite Lazarus-like, in the final hour.
American English
- The stock rose Lazarus-fast after the merger news.
adjective
British English
- He made a Lazarus-like recovery after the surgery.
American English
- The team's Lazarus turnaround stunned the league.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After being very ill, he made a good recovery.
- The old theatre made a remarkable comeback after being closed for years.
- The patient's Lazarus-like recovery baffled the medical team, who had held little hope just days before.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LAZY person who AROSE (Lazarus) from the dead—a miraculous awakening.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEATH IS SLEEP / A COMEBACK IS A RESURRECTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'Лазарь' in modern non-religious contexts, as it sounds archaic or overly biblical. For a metaphorical comeback, use 'возрождение' or 'неожиданное восстановление'.
- Do not confuse with the more common name 'Lazar'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a common noun without capitalisation (*a lazarus).
- Overusing the metaphor in informal contexts where simpler terms like 'comeback' suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'Lazarus' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as it originates from a proper noun (the biblical name). Even in metaphorical use, it retains the capital letter.
Informally and creatively, yes (e.g., 'to lazarus something back to life'), but this is non-standard and stylistically marked. It's more common as a noun or in the adjective form 'Lazarus-like'.
In different fields, it refers to: 1) Medicine: spontaneous return of circulation after cardiac arrest. 2) Ecology: the reappearance of a species thought to be extinct. 3) General: any sudden, unexpected revival.
In secular contexts, it is generally seen as a powerful metaphor, not offensive. In deeply religious contexts, some may find trivial or humorous uses disrespectful, so sensitivity is advised.