death in the pot
Preserved but no longer current.
During a dearth in Gilgal, there was made for the sons of the prophets a pottage of wild herbs, some of which were poisonous. When the sons of the prophets tasted the pottage, they cried out, "There is death in the pot." Then Elisha put into it some meal, and its poisonous qualities were counteracted (2 Kings iv, 40).
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “death in the pot” mean?
During a dearth in Gilgal, there was made for the sons of the prophets a pottage of wild herbs, some of which were poisonous. When the sons of the prophets tasted the pottage, they cried out, "There is death in the pot." Then Elisha put into it some meal, and its poisonous qualities were counteracted (2 Kings iv, 40).
Is “death in the pot” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.