be sacrificed on the altar of something
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.
See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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.
- altar
- be sacrificed on the altar of (something)
- sacrifice
- piece of crap
- trade up from
- trade up from (something)
- stepchild
- red-headed stepchild
- lead (one) to the altar