Augean stables

American  

[aw-jee-uhn stey-buhlz] / ɔˈdʒi ən ˈsteɪ bəlz /

plural noun

Classical Mythology.

1. the stables in which King Augeas kept 3,000 oxen, and which had not been cleaned for 30 years. The cleaning of these stables was accomplished by Hercules, who diverted the river Alpheus through them.

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Augean stables British  

plural noun

1. Greek myth the stables, not cleaned for 30 years, where King Augeas kept 3000 oxen. Hercules diverted the River Alpheus through them and cleaned them in a day

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Augean stables Cultural  

1. Stables that figured in the Greek myth of the Labors of Hercules. The stables, which belonged to King Augeas, housed a large herd of cattle and had not been cleaned for years. Hercules was ordered to clean out these filthy stalls. He did so by diverting the course of two rivers so that they flowed through the stables.

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Etymology

Origin of Augean stables

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

He likened the Internet to the Augean stables in Greek mythology, which needed Hercules to divert two rivers to wash away decades of manure.

From Reuters • Sep. 6, 2021

Instead, it is going to take an effort akin to Hercules cleaning out the Augean stables to repair, rebuild and strengthen America.

From The Guardian • Jan. 8, 2019

Until these Augean stables are cleared out, no amount of dedicated new tax revenue will be sufficient; once they are, very little new tax revenue will be necessary.

From New York Times • Jan. 3, 2018

Ridding Greece of its endemic political patronage and corruption will take a "Herculean effort," similar to cleaning the "Augean stables."

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2015

The fifth labor was to clean the Augean stables in a single day.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton