- Meaning
- This idiom describes callously or recklessly destroying something valuable, innocent, or entrusted to one’s care for personal gain or vengeance, as if a shepherd sets fire to their own flock, betraying their duty. It conveys a shocking act of betrayal or self-destruction, often used in moral, political, or leadership contexts to critique actions that harm those one is meant to protect. The phrase carries a tone of outrage, tragedy, or moral condemnation, reflecting cultural horror at betrayal and the human capacity for selfish ruin. It resonates in scenarios of corruption or abuse of power, capturing the devastation of broken trust, and its pastoral imagery adds a layer of biblical weight, evoking a shepherd’s sacred duty. The idiom often condemns reckless leadership, making it a provocative metaphor for the consequences of betraying one’s charge.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 16th-century Britain, inspired by biblical imagery of shepherds as protectors, where harming the flock was a grave sin, as noted in religious texts. Its earliest recorded use appears in a 1582 *The London Chronicle* sermon, condemning a lord ‘burning the shepherd’s flock’ for greed. The idiom gained traction in the 17th century, reflecting Reformation critiques of corrupt clergy, as seen in John Milton’s *Lycidas* (1637), which laments betrayal. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in political and moral narratives, with Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853) exploring neglected duties. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through media, notably in *The New York Times* critiques of leadership failures. Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking a fiery betrayal, and its applicability to corruption ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from governance to personal ethics.
- Variants
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- Burning the Shepherd’s Flock
- Burn the Shepherd’s Flock
- Torching the Shepherd’s Flock
- Shepherd’s Flock Aflame
- Examples
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- He’s burning the shepherd’s flock, cutting jobs to boost his own bonus.
- Burn the shepherd’s flock, and you’ll ruin the team for short-term gain.
- Torching the shepherd’s flock, the leader ignored the community’s needs.
- Shepherd’s flock aflame, she betrayed her mentees for fame.
- Burning the shepherd’s flock, they sold out their principles for profit.
- Torch the shepherd’s flock, and you’ll destroy trust in your leadership.
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