Meanings
plural poisoned chalices
- idiomaticSomething which is initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful; an apparently beneficial or benign instrument or scheme for causing death or harm.
The great spiritual visions of human history have also been poisoned chalices, the causes of untold misery and even savagery.
1989, Charles Taylor, Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 5195 more examples
[W]e but teach / Bloody Inſtructions, which, being taught, returne / To plague th' Inuentor. This euen-handed Iuſtice / Commends th' Ingredience of our poyſon'd Challice / To our owne lips.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vii], page 135, column 1Let this, Englishmen, be a leſſon to you; throw from you the doctrine of equality, as you would the poiſoned chalice. Wherever this deteſtable principle gains ground to any extent, ruin muſt inevitably enſue.
1798, Peter Porcupine [pseudonym; William Cobbett], Democratic Principles Illustrated. Part the Second. […], 4th edition, London: […] J. Wright, […], →OCLC, page 17Remember the death of Wilson was fearfully avenged; and those yet live who can compel you to drink the dregs of your poisoned chalice.— [...]
1818 July 25, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VI, in Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 139You need not, therefore, be surprised to hear of the vigorous blockade of the Chesapeake and Hampton Roads, and of the ports of seceded States, and that if these States erect batteries at Memphis or Vicksburgh to intercept the commerce of the Mississippi, that measures of stern retaliation or resistance will be inaugurated by the Government, to force the poisoned chalice to the lips of those who first drugged it.
1861 May 11, W. L. Underwood, “Another interview with Mr. [Abraham] Lincoln”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLCHis [Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's] role last year in persuading Ayatollah [Ruhollah] Khomeini to agree a Gulf War ceasefire – a decision the imam likened "to drinking from a poisoned chalice" – enhanced his reputation for pragmatism.
1989 June 30, Antony Walker, “Iran’s confident new face”, in The Age, Melbourne, Vic.: Fairfax Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 11, column 4Antonyms: blessing in disguise
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSomething which is initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful; an apparently beneficial or benign instrument or scheme for causing death or harm.
Origin
From poisoned + chalice (“a large drinking cup”), referring to a chalice containing a poisoned drink which is offered to someone. The earliest use of the term cited in the Oxford English Dictionary is in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (c. 1606), in a speech in which Macbeth flinches from the prospective murder of King Duncan: see the quotation.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 毒藥聖杯 /毒药圣杯, 糖衣毒藥 /糖衣毒药
- 毒藥聖杯 /毒药圣杯something initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- 糖衣毒藥 /糖衣毒药 (tángyīdúyào)something initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Czech danajský dar, medvědí služba
- danajský darsomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- medvědí službasomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Danish bjørnetjeneste
- bjørnetjenestesomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Dutch gifbeker, vergiftigd geschenk
- gifbekersomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- vergiftigd geschenksomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Estonian karuteene
- karuteenesomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Finnish karhunpalvelus, myrkkymalja
- karhunpalvelussomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- myrkkymaljasomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
French cadeau empoisonné, tunique de Nessus
- cadeau empoisonnésomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- tunique de Nessussomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
German Bärendienst, Danaergeschenk
- Bärendienstsomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- Danaergeschenksomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- vergiftetes Geschenksomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Italian regalo avvelenato
- regalo avvelenatosomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Norwegian Bokmål bjørnetjeneste
- bjørnetjenestesomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Polish koszula Dejaniry, niedźwiedzia przysługa
- koszula Dejanirysomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
- niedźwiedzia przysługasomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Russian медве́жья услу́га
- медве́жья услу́га (medvéžʹja uslúga)something initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Slovak danajský dar
- danajský darsomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Spanish regalo envenenado
- regalo envenenadosomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Swedish björntjänst
- björntjänstsomething initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with poisoned chalice
All rhymes →Cite this entry
poisoned chalice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poisoned%20chalice
“poisoned chalice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poisoned%20chalice. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “poisoned chalice,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poisoned%20chalice.
Source: poisoned chalice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.