road to Damascus

road to Damascus

A turning point; a life-changing experience. Refers to the Biblical story of Saul, who converts to Christianity (and becomes known as Paul) after he has a vision of Jesus while on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. That moment was my road to Damascus. Everything changed after that.
See also: road
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

road to Damascus

A sudden, radical change in attitude, perspective, or belief. The term refers to the biblical story of Paul, who converted from Judaism to Christianity while traveling the road to Damascus (Book of Acts, chapter 9). It has long been used figuratively, sometimes put as a road to Damascus moment. For example, “Where gun rights are concerned, a ‘Road to Damascus moment’ occurs when a formerly anti-gun or gun-shy person decides to become a gun owner” (John Pierce, Minneapolis Examiner, August 7, 2009).
See also: road
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • Judas
  • Judas kiss
  • a Judas kiss
  • doubting Thomas
  • a doubting Thomas
  • old as the hills, (as)
  • fiat lux
  • on a biblical scale
  • manna
  • manna from heaven, like
References in periodicals archive
"I can therefore only conclude that after being beaten by Labour in the European elections last year, maybe it wasn't a spoof attempt at sabotage by Lord Callanan of Low Fell but his personal road to Damascus moment.
Tory's name was on list of Labour supporters
It came a day after warplanes bombed rebels on the road to Damascus international airport.
Syrian Warplanes Hit Palestinian Refugee Camps
Warplanes on Wednesday overflew the area, through which passes the road to Damascus international airport.
Syrian warplanes pound Damascus suburbs, says rights watchdog
The Martyrs' Sons School is located at Baitara roundabout, on the road to Damascus' International Airport, said the report, adding that the blast left no casualties but four injuries.
4 people injured in school blast near Syrian capital: report
From Beirut, the road to Damascus undergoes a dramatic conversion.
Old City folks still back Al Assad
It was on the road to Damascus from Jerusalem; allegedly at a place now called Darayya, that something happened to Saul which was to change his life forever.
Opinion: The example of Faith in Damascus
Since the meeting of the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul became the Apostle of Nations, many great saints who have shaped the religious history of your country.
Syria Example of Tolerance, Coexistence and Harmonious: Pope Benedictus XVI
''The road to Damascus is a road to peace,'' said Nancy Pelosi on a 2007 visit to Syria as House Speaker.
U.S. editorial excerpts -3-
when Waldo started Paul on the road to Damascus because I had learned it
Snickering Like the Pharisees
The latest convert on the road to Damascus is Ed Miliband who apparently offers us humility, now that''s got to be a new word in the political vocabulary.
VENT YOUR SPLEEN
Left-wing leadership contender John McDonnell - a long-standing opponent of the war - said the "road to Damascus conversion" by Mr Balls and Ed Miliband had come too late.
Don't mention the war - urges Miliband
McDonnell said: "I welcome this road to Damascus conversion from Ed Miliband and Ed Balls, but regret that it is so late in the day.
Leadership rivals blast Iraq invasion
Pelosi memorably declared that ''the road to Damascus is a road to peace.'' Yet none so far has produced the slightest change in Mr.
U.S. editorial excerpts -2-
On the Road to Damascus, the long awaited solo exhibition of the paintings of June Bartlett, was opened at the Knightsbridge Mathaf Gallery by Syria's ambassador to the UK, HE Sami Khiyami.
On the road to Damascus
The experience was like Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. I was not looking for Jesus or God but was simply saying to God that I was sorry (I did not even know for sure that God existed).
Inextricably tied to Jesus