make an example of

present singular third person makes an example of · participle present making an example of · participle past made an example of · past made an example of

1. idiomatictransitiveTo punish someone so as to give a warning to others; sometimes, to overpunish them for added deterrence.

   He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.

   1 more example

   Most people got away with Napster piracy, but a few people were sued for gigantic sums because copyright holders intended to make an example of them.