Sacred Cow Meaning - Sacred Cow Defined - Sacred Cow Definition - Sacred Cow Examples - Sacred Cow

[00:00:00]Hi there, students.

[00:00:03]Sacred cow, a sacred cow.

[00:00:07]This is about a person or an institution or a belief which um social etiquette demands cannot be criticized.

[00:00:22]It can't be um changed. It can't be tampered with because um popular opinion says it should be given uh respect. It should be given reverence. It shouldn't be touched. It shouldn't be um handled too closely, examined too closely.

[00:00:47]So, to me, perhaps for example, um democracy is a sacred cow in the West. And people get upset if you start to criticize the uh criticize um democracy and the way it works.

[00:01:09]Or perhaps the free market, where everyone is allowed to um trade with everyone. And this is something that that is also a sacred cow. It shouldn't be um tampered with.

[00:01:28]Um the Yes, some activists argue that the free market shouldn't be treated as a sacred cow when it fails to address economic inequality.

[00:01:41]Okay, so a sacred cow, the tradition of going to church on Sunday um is a sacred cow in many communities.

[00:01:52]And if you don't, you will be um um, shunned by the, uh, the community.

[00:02:00]The politician's proposal to cut funding for education was seen as attacking a sacred cow.

[00:02:10]The company's policy of no layoffs has become a sacred cow even during economic downturns.

[00:02:22]So, a a sacred cow, a belief or custom that people support and they they don't question it. They don't criticize it.

[00:02:31]They just follow it blindly. Oh, by the way, thank you to Patricia for the suggestion for this.

[00:02:38]Um, they did not dare to challenge the sacred cow, parliamentary democracy.

[00:02:45]In the American Congress, defense spending seems to be a sacred cow. This is something people don't even dare question.

[00:02:57]Um, the uh, th- this, um, uh, a ro- roast beef for Sunday lunch is a sacred cow for many families.

[00:03:13]The old government program has become a sacred cow. So, it's a criticism of ideas or practices that are held in very high regard, but actually may no longer be relevant or, um, effective.

[00:03:30]Yeah, th- so, um, i- it's something that is immune from criticism.

[00:03:36]Um, that people accept without scrutiny.

[00:03:40]Um, and there's no actual justification for this.

[00:03:45]Um, I think this phrase, mm, originates from the reference to, um sacred Hindu cows, which are treated with great respect. Although this phrase emerged in American English in the in the late 19th century. Um So, yes, a a a sacred cow, something that is uh that has existed for a long time, and many people think should not be questioned or criticized.

[00:04:21]Um Yeah, a uni- university education for all is perhaps a sacred cow, and I think it's good for some people, but I'm not sure it's so good for um other people. Yeah, it's something that cannot be tampered with, can't be uh criticized.

[00:04:42]The need for widespread secrecy has become a sacred cow.

[00:04:50]So, critics argue that the healthcare industry has become a sacred cow of government spending.

[00:05:00]Many people consider the national anthem to be a sacred cow and are against any changes to it. Yeah, I guess the national flag of countries is a sacred cow, as well.

[00:05:13]Um The writer criticized the popular bestselling book, calling it a sacred cow of the literary world.

[00:05:24]Perhaps many of Shakespeare's works are sacred cows that are um above criticism.

[00:05:32]Um the idea of privatizing social security has long been a sacred cow for conservatives.

[00:05:41]The sacred cow of free speech is often cited in debates. Yeah, you can't say anything about bad about free speech.

[00:05:51]Well, I'm sure you could, but if you do, you'll probably get into trouble.

[00:05:55]Um the artist's unconventional style is a deliberate attempt to challenge the sacred cows of the art world.

[00:06:06]In many societies, elderly people are revered and considered sacred cows.

[00:06:12]The sacred cow of traditional gender roles is being questioned and redefined in today's society.

[00:06:21]The preservation of historic monuments or historical monuments has become a sacred cow for many cities. The comedian's jokes about religion often target sacred cows and promote controversy.

[00:06:41]Okay, so sacred cow. The The government's decision to cut funding for public libraries was seen as attacking a sacred cow.

[00:06:52]Or maybe the belief in an afterlife is a sacred cow in many religions.

[00:06:58]So something that um can't be um criticized.

[00:07:06]Um standardized testing has become the sacred cow of modern education.

[00:07:12]Despite the fact it doesn't measure actual intelligence.

[00:07:16]Um the monarchy is perhaps a sacred cow in the UK. Well, maybe not anymore. Um the late-night comedy show spared no sacred cows, brutally mocking politicians.

[00:07:32]So yeah, you could slaughter or slay a um a sacred cow. You get could get rid of it. Um I think um internet and social media one of the sacred cows of the society that we live in.

[00:07:54]So formality I think I'm going to give it a six in formality but I think you could use it anywhere and frequency of use I would say medium frequency. So sacred cow bye for now.