break a butterfly upon the wheel

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Coined by English poet Alexander Pope in 1734 in Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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break a butterfly upon the wheel (third-person singular simple present breaks a butterfly upon the wheel, present participle breaking a butterfly upon the wheel, simple past broke a butterfly upon the wheel, past participle broken a butterfly upon the wheel)

  1. To inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence.
    • 1734, Alexander Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot:
      Let Paris tremble—“What? that Thing of ſilk,
      Paris, that mere white Curd of Aſs’s milk?
      “Satire or Shame alas! can Paris feel?
      “Who breaks a Butterfly upon a Wheel?”
      Yet let me flap this Bug with gilded wings,
      This painted Child of Dirt that ſtinks and ſtings
  2. To employ great exertions for insignificant ends.
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Translations

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See also

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