sacred cow

noun

1. an individual, organization, institution, etc., considered to be exempt from criticism or questioning.

sacred cow

noun

1. informal.
   a person, institution, custom, etc, unreasonably held to be beyond criticism

sacred cow

1. Figuratively, anything that is beyond criticism: “That housing project is a real sacred cow: the city council won't hear of abandoning it.” In India, followers of Hinduism consider cows sacred and do not eat them because they believe the animals contain the souls of dead persons.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred cow¹

First recorded in 1905–10; in reference to the traditional inviolability of the cow among Hindus

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred cow¹

alluding to the Hindu belief that cattle are sacred

Idioms and Phrases

A person or thing immune to criticism or questioning, as in The rules governing the press conference have become a sacred cow in this administration . This term alludes to the honored status of cows in Hinduism, where they are a symbol of God's generosity to humankind. It has been used figuratively since about 1900.

Example Sentences

If reinventing an iconic magazine means taking aim at music’s sacred cows and finding ways to shout from the rooftops, both Noah Shachtman and Gus Wenner seem ready to do just that.

From Washington Post

They were very, very dubious to me and very protective of their sacred cows, so it was a real rude awakening.

From Washington Blade

City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera wants to tip the sacred cow that is the People’s Ordinance.

From Voice of San Diego

“She took the sacred cow and made a hybrid woman cow which is called Holy Daughter,” Adicéam said.

From The Daily Beast

Additionally, there is no upside in our media culture to challenging this sacred cow.

From The Daily Beast

"A sacred cow since the late '80s, now it's run its course," Reed said.

From The Daily Beast

We had to stop before every tree, every pagoda, every sacred tank and bush, and at last before a sacred cow.

From Project Gutenberg

And how in the name of the sacred cow did the deed get in the seat of this one?

From Project Gutenberg

That magneto-ionic thing the Sacred Cow's been talking about—they invented that real quick to cover up.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes I fancied myself buried in one of the pyramids of Egypt, breaking my shins against the bones of a sacred cow.

From Project Gutenberg

To them the Symphony is a sacred cow and they regarded the older members in the light of special pets.

From Project Gutenberg