be sacrificed on the altar of (something)

To be abandoned in exchange for something the speaker considers inferior. It seems that the curriculum at this school has been sacrificed on the altar of profit. I know you want to help your family, but your happiness shouldn't be sacrificed on the altar of servitude. In the political world, are ethics and values always sacrificed on the altar of power? It sure seems that way to me.

give the ultimate sacrifice

euphemism To die in service to a particular cause. A lot of the boys Grandma grew up with gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Yes, I'm afraid it's true—two first responders from our unit gave the ultimate sacrifice rescuing people from the fire. The police gave the ultimate sacrifice rescuing the girl who'd been kidnapped. He died a hero.

make the supreme sacrifice

euphemism To die in service to a particular cause. A lot of the boys Grandma grew up with made the supreme sacrifice in World War II. Yes, I'm afraid it's true—two first responders from our unit made the supreme sacrifice rescuing people from the fire.

make the ultimate sacrifice

euphemism To die in service to a particular cause. A lot of the boys Grandma grew up with made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Yes, I'm afraid it's true—two first responders from our unit made the ultimate sacrifice rescuing people from the fire.

sacrifice (someone or something) for (someone or something else)

1. To give up, relinquish, or surrender someone or something in order to obtain someone or something, benefit someone or something, or achieve some purpose. I had to sacrifice my favorite three baseball cards to get my hands on the ultra-rare Mickey Mantle card Tom was carrying. He sacrificed a lot of opportunities for you, and this is how you repay him? I don't mind sacrificing a weekend for a chance to win a million dollars on TV.

2. To permit harm, death, destruction, or failure to someone or something in order to obtain something or for some purpose. Their government is clearly willing to sacrifice its citizens for this foolish war. Sarah sacrificed a lot of friendships and relationships for her place at the head of the company.

sacrifice (someone or something) to (someone or something else)

1. To make a sacrificial offering of someone or something to some being, deity, or power. The tribe selects someone each year and sacrifices them to the gods. In burning our material possessions, we sacrifice that which binds us to the mortal world to the unknowable forces of eternity.

2. To give up, relinquish, or surrender someone or something in order to do something. He sacrificed a lot of career opportunities to follow his dream of moving to Japan. I sacrificed the best years of my life to raise you kids!

sacrifice (something) on the altar of (something)

To abandon something in exchange for something else (which is stated after "of"). I know you want to help your family, but you can't sacrifice your happiness on the altar of servitude. It seems that the curriculum at this school has been sacrificed on the altar of profit.

supreme sacrifice

euphemism A death that occurs in service to a particular cause. A lot of the boys Grandma grew up with made the supreme sacrifice in World War II. Yes, I'm afraid it's true—two first responders from our unit gave the supreme sacrifice rescuing people from the fire.

ultimate sacrifice

euphemism A death that occurs in service to a particular cause. A lot of the boys Grandma grew up with made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Yes, I'm afraid it's true—two first responders from our unit gave the ultimate sacrifice rescuing people from the fire.

sacrifice someone or something for someone or something

to forfeit someone or something for the sake of someone or something. Surely you won't sacrifice your dear wife for a silly twit like Francine! Would you sacrifice your bank account for a chance to go to Europe?

sacrifice someone or something to someone or something

to make an offering of or give up someone or something to someone or some power. The high priest prepared to sacrifice the prisoner to the gods. I sacrificed a lot of money to a fancy lifestyle.

be sacrificed on the altar of something

If someone or something is sacrificed on the altar of a particular belief or activity, they suffer or are harmed because of it. They promised that the interests of farmers wouldn't be sacrificed on the altar of free trade. Let us hope that these children's education will not be sacrificed on the altar of social experimentation. Note: You can also say that someone or something is a sacrifice on the altar of a particular thing. He was just another sacrifice on the altar of celebrity. Note: An altar was a large stone on which animals were killed during the worship of a god or goddess in former times. The killing of an animal in this way was called a sacrifice.

See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice, something

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

sacrifice someone or something on the altar of

make someone or something suffer in the interests of someone or something else.

1994 Post (Denver) The cherished goal of a color-blind society…has been sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice, someone, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

References in periodicals archive

Every year she buys a cow and donates it to the mosque for sacrifice. This year was no different.

Malaysians enjoy Feast of the Sacrifice

How many of us ponder over the incident that we pay homage to, and which person amongst us would dare to imagine what Hazrat Ibrahim went through as he prepared for this sacrifice? How should, then, these thoughts reflect over our manner of fulfilling this ritual?

Spirit of sacrifice

He also appealed to Muslims not to sacrifice animals on roads and not to click photos and upload them on social media.

BJP writes to K'taka DGP on banning cow slaughter on Bakrid

He said the nation pays rich tribute to the sacrifices of their martyrs.

Police Day observed across Pakistan

This is the sacrifice that we offer to the Father, in reparation for our sins, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, for over 2,000 years now.

The Passover and the Mass

The question that we must ponder is what are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of Allah?

Are you willing to make the sacrifice for Allah?

Child sacrifices were common in many ancient Central and South American cultures, and these sacrifices sometimes had connections to mythology.

Why Did The Chimu Sacrifice Children?

'The greatest sacrifice my mom made was when she carried me in her womb for nine months and accepted the role of bearing a new life.

'Amid my tears, screams, my mother never left my side'

Pesthy-Simon explores martyrdom as a voluntary human sacrifice in the Jewish and Greco-Roman milieu that generated early Christian martyrdom.

Isaac, Iphigeneia, Ignatius: Martyrdom and Human Sacrifice

On the occasion of Commemoration Day, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has pledged to the families of the nation's martyrs that they will continue to receive the utmost care and full support of the nation, "Because we are a nation that treasures the value of sacrifice and never forgets those who devoted their lives and offered their precious blood to keep the nation's flag flying high." In a statement given to Nation Shield , the Armed Forces magazine, Shaikh Khalifa added that these sacrifices will only increase "Our resolve, strength, solidarity and cohesion to defend this country."

Leaders laud contributions of martyrs on Commemoration Day

Qatar Charity (QC) has inaugurated the "sacrifices campaign" for year 1437 under the title "Your Sacrifice, Their Eid", which seeks to provide 26,040 sacrifices (cows and goats) in 37 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Thousands to benefit from QC campaign in 37 countries

Predominant is the notion of sacrifice as the destruction of a victim, whether it be the slaughter of an animal, the taking of human life, or the surrender of something for the benefit of others.

Sacrifice and Modern Thought