Coventry

be sent to Coventry

To be ostracized; to be ignored, typically as a form of punishment. Primarily heard in UK. I was sent to Coventry by the other students after I refused to help them cheat.
See also: Coventry, sent

send (one) to Coventry

To ostracize; to ignore or refuse to communicate with one, typically as a form of punishment. Primarily heard in UK. When I refused to help them cheat, the other students sent me to Coventry.
See also: Coventry, send
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be sent to Coventry

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If you are sent to Coventry, other people ignore you and refuse to talk to you because they disapprove of something you have done. Rumours about his private life started circulating among his colleagues and he soon found himself sent to Coventry. Note: Various origins have been suggested for this expression. During the English Civil War, Royalist prisoners from Birmingham were sent to prison in Coventry, a city which strongly supported the Parliamentarian side. Another suggestion is that the people of Coventry disliked soldiers so much that they refused to have anything to do with any woman who was seen talking to a soldier. As a result, soldiers did not like being sent to Coventry, where it was difficult to have social contact with anyone.
See also: Coventry, sent
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

send someone to Coventry

refuse to associate with or speak to someone. chiefly British
This expression, which dates from the mid 18th century, is thought by some to stem from the extreme unpopularity of soldiers stationed in Coventry, who were cut off socially by the citizens. Another suggestion is that the phrase arose because Royalist prisoners were sent to Coventry during the English Civil War, the city being staunchly Parliamentarian.
See also: Coventry, send, someone
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

send somebody to ˈCoventry

(British English) refuse to speak to somebody, as a way of punishing them for something they have done: Joe worked all through the strike, so when it was over, the other workers sent him to Coventry.This may come from the English Civil War when the city of Coventry was a strong supporter of Parliament. Supporters of the King who were taken prisoner were sometimes sent there.
See also: Coventry, send, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be sent to Coventry
  • sit like piffy on a rock bun
  • sit like piffy on a rock cake
  • piffey
  • piffy
  • like piffy on a rock bun
  • like piffy on a rock cake
  • pence
  • like cheese at four pence
  • scarlet woman
References in periodicals archive
Centaur Rd, Coventry, for pounds 9,250, 1979, stayed 21/2 yrs
48 HOMES IN 60 YEARS; Norman and Edna just can't stay put
Professor Mike Hardy, executive director for the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, said: "We are so pleased and excited to be able to welcome Coventry Life Festival in October.
Festival for older people
The first section adapts and reconstructs a selection of the Coventry Carols.
Culture: Poetic justice for Coventry history
BBC Music Biggest Weekend Coventry: All the stage times revealed
Coventry Pride to be secured for five years; The event has been backed until 2022 by Coventry BID
Coventry Motorcycles and Scooters, which has been trading for more than 14 years, recently relocated to premises at 310 Walsgrave Road, Coventry.
Bike shop showing its support for Cov United
Whitmore Park Primary School, Halford Lane, Coventry
Local election: Where to find your nearest polling station; Voters can head out to the polls between 7am and 10pm today - but do you know where you're heading?
Coventry BID has now become an official sponsor of the annual proceedings, along with Coventry University and the University of Warwick.
The PRIDE of Coventry; WITH THE 2017 EVENT FAST APPROACHING, ANNUAL CELEBRATION IS NOW BEING BACKED BY CITY BUSINESSES
Instead of buses from Holbrooks travelling beyond the city centre to Ball Hill, Wyken and University Hospital they would serve Corporation Street and the rail station before continuing to another part of Coventry. This would mean Holbrooks would have a direct link to the rail station.
Proposed bus route changes for Coventry; The bus company are considering a whole host of changes
Trish Willetts, Coventry BID director, said that Coventry Pride was an important event and she was thrilled to be supporting it for five years.
Coventry Pride to be secured for five years
Coventry Station Extension Sat Nav: CV1 2GT Size of Site: 10 acres (four hectares) Planning use: Transport Hub, Retail, Car Parking Developer: Network Rail / Coventry City Council Planning Authority: Coventry City Council Local Companies: Network Rail Coventry is the fastest growing station outside London over the last five years.
COVENTRY DEVELOPMENTS
"This is one of the first lawsuits in the life settlements industry to expose companies like Coventry First that defrauded both policy owners and investors to maximize its profits," said Puccio.
Coventry hit with RICO suit
"What we really want to do is keep the problems at the supplier and identify them before they get into our production system," Coventry says.
GEMA takes off: although some people think that the only place to build new manufacturing plants in the U.S. is in the southern states, a team of global companies has constructed one of the most flexible powertrain plants in the world in Michigan. Why? One answer is talent
Coventry looked the better organised but a Vines break gave him a 22nd minute try -10-7 to Rugby - then Coventry knocked on in sight of the line.
Rugby Union: COV SLAY LIONS; RUGBY LIONS 20 COVENTRY 31
The advent of institutional funding should virtually eliminate the scams and elevate the industry's image, said Alan Buerger, chief executive officer and co-founder of Coventry First, a settlement broker in Fort Washington, Pa.
Cashing out: Big banks and insurers are putting money into the business of buying unwanted life insurance policies, a trend that foreshadows growth for the still-new industry. (Life/Health)
The latest train to be added to the fleet of Virgin Trains is going to have a very special connection to Coventry.
Virgin honours Coventry with Lady Godiva train; The city's new flag will also take pride of place on the new train