burn at the stake

Expression

Expression burn at the stake

1. If someone is burned at the stake they are tied to a wooden pole and killed by being burned alive. This was a punishment for crimes in Europe a long time ago.

   A witch was burned at the stake here.

2. If someone burns at the stake they are being burned while tied to a pole.

   Joan of Arc burned at the stake after the English caught her.

Related words

• stake
• burn