I. Atlas BrE AmE
in Greek ↑ mythology , one of the ↑ Titans (=the first gods who ruled the universe) . After the Titans were defeated by ↑ Zeus , Atlas was forced to hold the sky on his shoulders forever. In art, however, Atlas is usually shown holding the world on his shoulders, not the sky.
II. Atlas, Charles BrE AmE
(1893–1972) a US ↑ body builder , who started a successful business selling a course that showed people how to develop strong muscles. Its advertisements used the phrase ‘You too can have a body like mine’. Charles Atlas’s name is often used humorously to describe someone who has strong muscles:
He thinks he’s Charles Atlas.