A “sacred cow” is a belief, custom, institution, or practice treated as beyond criticism or serious questioning. The expression is usually disapproving, and this guide makes no unsupported claim about its precise origin chronology.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
A “sacred cow” is a belief, custom, institution, or practice that people treat as beyond criticism or serious questioning.
Key details
Canonical Formsacred cow
Core Meaninga belief, custom, institution, or practice that people support and are reluctant or unwilling to question or criticize
Further guidance
History Boundary
Current dictionary-supported meaning is published without claiming an exact inventor, coinage date, or absolute first use.
Meaning
a belief, custom, institution, or practice that people support and are reluctant or unwilling to question or criticize
Usage Boundary
The expression is commonly disapproving; use it when the protected-from-criticism idea is intended, not simply as a synonym for something popular or traditional.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
A “change of heart” means changing your opinion or feelings about something. The guide establishes the present-day idiom and does not invent an exact coinage or first-use account.
“A slap on the wrist” is an informal idiom for a mild warning or punishment. It is usually figurative and can carry the implication that the consequence was light compared with what was expected or deserved. This guide does not attach an unsupported origin chronology.
“A taste of your own medicine” refers to treating someone in the same unpleasant way that they have treated others. Cambridge records both “dose” and “taste” in the established expression. This guide limits the page to current form and meaning and does not add an unsupported origin story.
Use “acid test” for a test or standard that reveals whether something really has the claimed quality, value, or success. The guide stays with current documented meaning and does not assert unsupported origin chronology.
“Actions speak louder than words” emphasizes conduct over verbal claims: actions can reveal intentions and feelings more clearly than words alone. This guide publishes the current saying and meaning without adding an unsupported exact-origin claim.
“At stake” means that something valuable is in danger of being lost. The guide stays with current documented meaning and does not add unsupported origin chronology.
“At the drop of a hat” describes acting immediately or very readily. This guide publishes the current form and meaning supported by Cambridge without adding an unsupported story about a precise origin or first use.
