go to the stake

go to the stake

To be willing to do anything in defense of one's beliefs. These protests are dangerous—are you really ready to go to the stake for your beliefs?
See also: go, stake
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go to the stake

mainly BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If you say that you would go to the stake to defend a principle or aim, you mean that you believe in it completely and would do anything to prove it. It's certainly not a cause that I would go to the stake for. Note: A stake is a wooden post. In the past, people were sometimes tied to a stake and burned alive for refusing to give up beliefs which the church considered heretical and wrong.
See also: go, stake
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • air (one's) opinion
  • against (one's) principles
  • courage of one's convictions, have the
  • have the courage of (one's) convictions
  • have the courage of convictions
  • have the courage of your convictions
  • have/lack the courage of your convictions
  • lack the courage of (one's) convictions
  • your, his, etc. true colours
  • (one's) (true) stripes
References in classic literature
There was a sort of patient, humorous endurance in his expression which indicated that he would go to the stake if need be, but would keep on looking pleasant until he really had to begin squirming.
Anne of The Island
Here this man will go to the stake for me, and I find him delighted at having it
Crime And Punishment
"I would go to the stake in my belief that the Prime Minister is committed totally to this package," he said.
Rebel MP urges government to spell out compensation pledge before by-election
Swan Hunter doesn't have to go to the stake over this disappointment; Kroese believes it can recover and continue to retain a significant workforce.
There is still hope of a future for Swans
"There are many Liberals who would rather go to the stake than be seen as the playthings of the Labour Party.
Salmond's power bid is wrecked by Wallace
But Cauchon was in league with the English; he burned the letter, and later told Joan that the Pope said that her voices were from the devil and not God, so that she would have to go to the stake. Before her execution she was denied confession and communion and her crucifix was taken away from her; Cauchon said that witches were not allowed crucifixes.
Joan of Arc - Mont St. Michel a pilgrimage