Meaning of the word "kill the chicken to scare the monkey" in English

What does "kill the chicken to scare the monkey" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

kill the chicken to scare the monkey

US /kɪl ðə ˈtʃɪk.ən tu skɛr ðə ˈmʌŋ.ki/
UK /kɪl ðə ˈtʃɪk.ɪn tu skeə ðə ˈmʌŋ.ki/
"kill the chicken to scare the monkey" picture

Idiom

to punish an individual as an example to others

Example:
The manager fired the lazy employee to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
They decided to kill the chicken to scare the monkey by strictly enforcing the rules on the first offender.