Augean
adjective
uk/ɔːˈdʒiː.ən/us/ɑːˈdʒiː.ən/used todescribethe verybadconditionof something, or todescribea verydifficulttaskthatinvolvescleaningorimprovingsomething that is in a verybadcondition:
Iusherthechildrenout withapologeticlookstowards Barbara, who isstartingtotacklethe Augeanmesswe haveleftbehind.
Cleaning upcorruptionwill be an Augeantask.
- For the next twoyearsthepartyshould devote itself to the Augeancleaningup andopeningup ofpolitics.
- He has done more than any manlivingtocleanout the Augeanheadquartersof the Committee.
- They have done anexcellentjobcleaningup the Augeanstablesofbadinvestmentat thebank.
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
- a hard/tough row to hoeidiom
- a rough rideidiom
- abyss
- adversity
- atyourworstidiom
- bad hair day
- banana skin
- emergence
- epidemic
- genie
- hardness
- have a bumpy rideidiom
- havesomeoneover a barrelidiom
- rabbit hole
- reversal
- rigour
- rollercoaster
- the Augean Stablesidiom
- the hard wayidiom
- vortex
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Dirty & untidy
Idiom
the Augean Stables