burn in effigy

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."

See also: burn, effigy

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.

See also: burn, effigy

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.