The threat of layoffs was like a sword of Damocles hanging over the employees.
Угроза увольнений была как дамоклов меч, нависший над сотрудниками.
Definitions
The 'sword of Damocles' is a metaphor for the imminent and ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power or privilege. It originates from a story in which Damocles, a courtier, is granted the opportunity to experience the life of a king, only to find a sword hanging precariously above him, symbolizing the constant threat and anxiety that accompany such power.
