What does tantalus mean?
In Greek mythology, Tantalus was a king who was punished in the underworld by being forced to stand in a pool of water that always receded when he tried to drink, and under a fruit tree whose branches always pulled away when he tried to eat. In modern usage, a tantalus is a device that holds objects just out of reach, often used as a metaphor for something that is unattainable or frustratingly close.
Example
"The artist's latest sculpture was a tantalus, a beautiful but unattainable work of art that seemed to hover just out of reach."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.