at the altar of the golden calf
- idiom
- Literature
:
en el altar del becerro de oro
- In pursuit of wealth, he sacrificed his integrity at the altar of the golden calf.
Examples
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In pursuit of profits, the company abandoned environmental responsibility at the altar of the golden calf.
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Some politicians have betrayed public trust at the altar of the golden calf, prioritizing personal gain.
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He chose fame and fortune at the altar of the golden calf, risking lifelong friendships.
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Many people worship at the altar of the golden calf without realizing it.
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In pursuit of wealth, he sacrificed his integrity at the altar of the golden calf.
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Some politicians have betrayed public trust at the altar of the golden calf, prioritizing personal gain.
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In pursuit of profits, the company abandoned environmental responsibility at the altar of the golden calf.
Synonyms
133
5.3
Offer or kill something valuable as part of a religious ceremony
1
9.6
To take a serious risk by doing something morally wrong to gain power or money
Act badly to get money, power, or success
Antonyms
How Moral
39
3.8
280
4.1
20
6.3
1
6.9
- Literature
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + the + altar + of + the + golden + calf
The components give partial cues: 'altar' signals worship/sacrifice and 'golden' suggests something of material value, so a learner could infer worshiping or valuing something precious. However, the expression depends on the biblical idiom 'golden calf' (an idol) and a figurative extension to moral sacrifice for wealth, which a B1 learner who only knows the literal words may not fully recover without cultural/background knowledge.
Etymology
At the altar of the golden calf comes from a Bible story where people made a golden calf and built an altar to worship it. Saying someone acts at the altar of the golden calf means they give up their 'values' and worship 'money' or 'personal gain' instead.