burn (one) in effigy
To set on fire something that symbolizes a person who one opposes. In protest of the war, a large group has set about burning the president in effigy. If people are burning the prime minister in effigy in the streets, we need to ramp up his security even more. A: "Sir, they're burning you in effigy." B: "Good! I'd rather be feared than loved anyway."
hang (someone) in effigy
To protest someone by displaying a representation of them, such as an image or dummy, being hanged. (An "effigy" is such a representation.) In protest of the war, a large group has set about hanging the president in effigy outside the White House. If people are hanging the prime minister in effigy in the streets, we need to ramp up his security even more. A: "Sir, they're hanging you in effigy." B: "Good! I'd rather be feared than loved anyway."
in effigy
Symbolically; publicly in the form of an effigy. (Typically used with the verbs "burn" or "hang.") In protest of the war, a large group has set about burning the president in effigy outside the White House. If people are hanging the prime minister in effigy in the streets, we need to ramp up his security even more. A: "Sir, they're burning you in effigy." B: "Good! I'd rather be feared than loved anyway."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
burn someone in effigy
to burn a dummy or other figure that represents a hated person. For the third day in a row, they burned the king in effigy. Until they have burned you in effigy, you can't really be considered a famous leader.
hang someone in effigy
Fig. to hang a dummy or some other figure of a hated person. They hanged the dictator in effigy. The angry mob hanged the president in effigy.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
in effigy
Symbolically. For example, That umpire was completely unfair-let's burn him in effigy. Now used only figuratively, this term formerly signified a way of carrying out the sentence of a criminal who had escaped, such as burn in effigy or hang in effigy. A dummy was made of the criminal or a detested political figure and subjected to the prescribed punishment. [c. 1600]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in effigy
Symbolically, especially in the form of an effigy: The deposed dictator was burned in effigy by the crowd.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.