sacred cow
6
6.5
- noun
- /ˈseɪkrɪd kaʊ/
- Informal
:
vacuna sagrada
- The company's policy on telecommuting used to be a sacred cow that no one dared to question.
And so my view is, you know, spitting on other people's sacred cows for the sake of seeing them get upset is not something we should do.
- And so my view is, you know, spitting on other people's sacred cows for the sake of seeing them get upset is not something we should do.
Examples
-
Has the policy become a sacred cow second only to homecoming traditions?
Academic text (1992) -
You know it's budget time when the term "sacred cows" is mentioned at a school board meeting.
Blog text (12) -
And in some competition policy areas, even the United States and Europe have their sacred cows.
Academic text (1995) -
You can make your own list, but we all have our own sacred cows.
Blog text (29) -
Yes, 'how it's always been done' is a powerful force with our friends the sacred cows.
Blog text (29) -
Here are a few sacred cows that might make your list:
Blog text (29) -
One of the sacred cows of the Democrat Party is Health and Human Services.
Blog text (27) -
We have to examine our own "sacred cows" about libraries.
Academic text (2015) -
So the sacred cow of the romantic ideal is monogamy.
-
And why does nobody dare mention the sacred cow of the military-industrial complex?
Blog text (7)
Synonyms
1
9.9
A rule from religion or community that forbids certain actions and places
How Protected
26
7.1
- Informal
6
6.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
sacred + cow
Literally combining 'sacred' (held in high respect) with 'cow' yields the idea of an animal that is revered or protected, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a general sense of untouchability. However, the conventional figurative use to mean a belief or practice that cannot be criticized is a metaphorical extension and relies on cultural/idiomatic usage, so the relation is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase sacred cow comes from the idea of a sacred cow in some cultures where people would not touch or harm the animal. Because the animal was left alone, the phrase became a way to talk about a person, thing, or idea that people will not criticize or change, 'too important to be criticized'.