Cool MateSacrifice vs Toss him to the dogs
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sacrifice
Toss him to the dogs
| Sacrifice | Toss him to the dogs | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsækrɪfaɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsækrɪfaɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɒs hɪm tə ðə dɒɡz//🇺🇸 //tɔs hɪm tə ðə dɔɡz// |
| Meaning | to give up something for a purpose or someone else's benefit | To give someone up to danger or neglect. |
| Example | The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. | He felt his colleagues would just toss him to the dogs during the crisis. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, considerable, enormous, be, make, involve, animal, human, pagan, perform, offer (something as), sacrifice to | toss someone aside, toss to danger, toss into neglect |
| Antonyms | gain, keep, retain | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sacrifice' as a noun vs. verb, Using 'sacrifice' without an object (incorrect usage), Mixing up with similar words like 'offer' or 'give' inappropriately | Confused with 'throw him to the dogs,' which means the same., Using in formal contexts where a softer expression is needed., Misinterpreting the phrase as literal instead of idiomatic. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts where someone gives up something important to achieve a greater goal. Generally neutral, but can be formal when discussing serious topics. Avoid informal contexts like casual conversations. | Used in informal contexts to imply abandoning someone in a harsh situation. Not suitable for formal writing or serious discussions. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Sacrifice vs Toss him to the dogs
What's the difference between Sacrifice and Toss him to the dogs?
Sacrifice: to give up something for a purpose or someone else's benefit Toss him to the dogs: To give someone up to danger or neglect.
Which is more formal: Sacrifice and Toss him to the dogs?
Sacrifice is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Sacrifice and Toss him to the dogs?
Sacrifice is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Sacrifice: The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. Toss him to the dogs: He felt his colleagues would just toss him to the dogs during the crisis.
Can I use Sacrifice and Toss him to the dogs interchangeably?
Not always. Sacrifice and Toss him to the dogs are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.