spectre
raise the specter of (something)
To make people aware of or worry about something unpleasant, dreadful, or terrifying. Primarily heard in US. The sudden dip in stock prices has raised the specter of another global recession with some investors. Throughout the Cold War, politicians raised the specter of Communism and the Iron Curtain over anything they thought to be "un-American."
See also: of, raise
the spectre at the feast
Someone or something that acts as a reminder of something negative and thus ruins the enjoyment of something. Primarily heard in UK. I think I'll stay home. I'm afraid that since everyone knows about my recent diagnosis, I will be the spectre at the feast.
See also: feast, spectre
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
the spectre at the feast
orthe ghost at the feast
BRITISHIf someone or something is the spectre at the feast or the ghost at the feast, they make people feel uncomfortable because they remind them of an unhappy event or situation. At the funeral, Lindsay had stood apart, the ultimate spectre at the feast. That question was the ghost at the feast and cast a shadow over the celebrations. Note: According to the Greek writer Plutarch, the Ancient Egyptians used to place a skeleton at the table during a feast, to remind them that they would die one day.
See also: feast, spectre
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
raise the ˈspectre of something
(British English) (American English raise the ˈspecter of something) make people afraid that something unpleasant might happen: The news of more cuts has raised the spectre of redundancies once again.A spectre is an old word for a ghost.
See also: of, raise, something, spectre
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- raise the specter of (something)
- raise the spectre of something
- come to a bad end
- come to a bad/sticky end
- scare story
- have no stomach for something
- have the stomach for
- be tainted by (something)
- be in for
- be in for something