mares of diomedes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/TechnicalLiterary/Academic
Quick answer
What does “mares of diomedes” mean?
In Greek mythology, the four man-eating horses owned by the giant Diomedes, king of Thrace.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Greek mythology, the four man-eating horses owned by the giant Diomedes, king of Thrace.
A reference to something dangerous, uncontrollable, or voracious; often used metaphorically for insatiable appetites or destructive forces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Both share classical/literary connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora; slightly higher in UK academic texts due to stronger classical education traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “mares of diomedes” in a Sentence
[subject] compared to the Mares of Diomedestaming the Mares of Diomedes proved impossibleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mares of diomedes” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The situation was positively Mares-of-Diomedes in its complexity.
American English
- He faced a Mares-of-Diomedes level of difficulty.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for uncontrollable market forces or voracious competition.
Academic
Reference in classical studies, literature, mythology courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific term in classical mythology and related scholarship.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mares of diomedes”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mares of diomedes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mares of diomedes”
- Mare's (possessive singular) instead of Mares (plural)
- Diomede's (incorrect possessive)
- Using 'horse' instead of specifically 'mare' (female horse)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They were female horses (mares), specifically four man-eating mares.
Hercules (Heracles) captured them as his eighth labour.
Yes, but only in literary, academic, or metaphorical contexts to describe something voracious or uncontrollable.
In most versions, Hercules fed Diomedes to his own mares, which calmed them, then took them to King Eurystheus.
In Greek mythology, the four man-eating horses owned by the giant Diomedes, king of Thrace.
Mares of diomedes is usually literary/academic in register.
Mares of diomedes: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmeəz əv daɪˈɒmɪdiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmerz əv daɪˈɑːmɪdiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have the appetite of Diomedes' mares”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DIOMEDES' Mares: Dangerous Inhuman Omnivorous Monsters Eating Deadly Enemies' Souls.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSATIABLE APPETITE IS A MAN-EATING HORSE / UNCONTROLLABLE FORCE IS A MYTHICAL BEAST
Practice
Quiz
What were the Mares of Diomedes known for?