kill one to warn a hundred

kill one to warn a hundred

To kill someone as an example to deter others from acting in a certain way. The dictator will certainly kill one to warn a hundred—he thinks it's the best way to keep the people in line.
See also: hundred, kill, one, warn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • warn
  • be in at the kill
  • (one) will kill (someone)
  • have (some) time to kill
  • have time to kill
  • kill with kindness, to
  • killed off
  • kill off
  • (one) is going to kill (someone)
  • killed outright