burn at the stake

Idioms and Phrases

Execute someone by tying to a stake and burning; also, punish severely. This expression refers to a method used in the Middle Ages for putting heretics to death, but now it is used as a hyperbolic metaphor for harsh punishment, as in She was sure she'd be burned at the stake for losing the contract . In fact, the stake can be used loosely for any extreme punishment. William Makepeace Thackeray so used it in Henry Esmond (1852): “'I know I would go to the stake for you,' said Harry.”

Example Sentences

He refused to undermine that effort, or to give his Wilding army to Stannis Baratheon to fight the Boltons, and for that, he was sentenced to burn at the stake.

From New York Times

On the left, Betty Friedan, the feminist leader and author, compared her to a religious heretic, telling her in a debate that she should burn at the stake for opposing the Equal Rights Amendment.

From New York Times

When Ms. Friedan, during a debate at Indiana University in 1973, recommended that she burn at the stake, Mrs. Schlafly replied in an even voice that she was pleased Ms. Friedan had said that because, she said, the comment had made it plain to the audience just how intolerant “intemperate, agitating proponents of the E.R.A.” were.

From New York Times

I mean, the guy made a point of getting my name so he’d know exactly who to burn at the stake!

From Literature

It’s not so much about watching her burn at the stake, but the reactions of people around her.

From Time