to burn in effigy
2
8.9
- idiom
- /bɜrn ɪn ˈɛfɪdʒi/
- Offensive
:
quemar en efigie
- The crowd screamed in ecstasy as Mean Marvin was burned in effigy.
- burned in effigy at a rally
Examples
-
During the protest, the crowd decided to burn in effigy the politician to show their anger.
-
If Limbaugh is to be burned in effigy, let him be joined by Bill
Blog text (6) -
They held a public rally against him, at which he enjoyed seeing himself burned in effigy.
Academic text (2001) -
In England, Guy Fawkes is still burned in effigy on that date, appropriately the night before our presidential election.
Blog text (19) -
One European communist activist even suggested that Goldman be burned in effigy.
Blog text (33) -
There are literally hundreds of videos currently viewable on YouTube of Bush being burned in effigy.
Blog text (1) -
Although Washington fishermen burned him in effigy for upholding Indian rights in the 1970s, we believe that more people today recognize that the rights of Indians and non-Indians and the protection of the environment are inextricably linked.
Academic text (2002) -
At the rally, demonstrators gathered to burn in effigy a representation of the controversial leader.
-
Frustrated with the government's decisions, the citizens planned to burn in effigy a large doll mimicking the mayor.
Antonyms
How Hostile
- Offensive
2
8.9
548
3.2
72
4.2
283
3.2
701
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'burn' (set on fire) + 'in effigy' (in the form of a representation of a person) yields the action of burning a representation to show disapproval. This is a literal, descriptive construction rather than an idiomatic shift, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Burn in effigy comes from the practice of making a dummy or image of a person called an effigy and burning it in public to show anger. That's why it now means 'to publicly show strong disapproval or criticism of someone'.