Poisoned chalice etc.

Posted by ESC on April 26, 2008 at 10:42:

In Reply to: Poisoned chalice etc. posted by Butamire Pan on April 26, 2008 at 08:39:

: What are the meanings of these? A poisoned chalice, rara avis, deus ex machina.

The last one -- machine of the gods -- is here: www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 8 messages 67.html