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Glite Dictionary
to make an example of

to make an example of

9 6.5
To punish someone to warn other people not to do the same
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : dar un escarmiento
  • The principal decided to make an example of the student who broke the rules to discourage others.
  • want to make an example of
  • going to make an example of
  • make an example of her, says

And it looks as if we've seen this with other other, especially computer developers, like they were trying to make an example of him.

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Examples

  • They had decided to make an example of Shoshona.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • You know I love you, but what you don't seem to understand is that I will make an example of you.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I say we make an example of her.

    God's Not Dead 2 (2016)

  • So they made an example of him and his brother.

    Casino (1995)

  • Lucky me, they were going to make an example of me.

    Blog text (2)

  • This young man was made an example of.

    Blog text (21)

  • They want to make an example of you.

    God's Not Dead 2 (2016)

  • Deacon Jones: But they are going to make an example of one of them.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • They were hoping to make an example of you, but instead you became an inspiration.

    God's Not Dead 2 (2016)

  • They want to make an example of Glenn Ables.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

to punish
vsto make an example of
821 1.0

Make someone suffer for doing something wrong

aims to warn others by making the action visible
to teach someone a lesson
vsto make an example of
  • Informal
139 4.2

Punish someone so they learn not to do it again

seeks to deter observers rather than only help the wrongdoer learn
to discipline
vsto make an example of
47 3.4

To punish or train someone so they follow rules

focuses on warning others instead of long term behaviour change

Antonyms

to excuse
384 2.2

Forgive a fault or bad behaviour

to reward
328 1.3

To give something to someone to thank them for doing something good

How Severe

to expel
194 5.0
to make an example of
9 6.5
to punish
821 1.0
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to warn
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

make an example of infinitive
making an example of present participle
makes an example of third person singular
made an example of past
made an example of past participle

Morphology

make + an + example + of

The phrase combines 'make' (to cause) with 'example' (an instance or model), so a learner could infer the general idea of causing someone to serve as an example. However, the specific pragmatic meaning — deliberately punishing someone to warn or deter others — is an extended, metaphorical use that is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom make an example of comes from the image of taking one person and making them into an example by showing their mistake and punishment to the group so others learn. So it means 'to punish someone in order to warn others'.