golden calf

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Word: Golden Calf

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: The term "golden calf" originally refers to a statue made of gold that was created by Aaron for the Israelites to worship when they were waiting for Moses to return from Mount Sinai. It is a story from the Old Testament of the Bible. In a broader sense, it now refers to anything that people admire or worship excessively, even if it doesn’t deserve that admiration.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "golden calf" when talking about something that is idolized or revered, but may not be worthy of such admiration.
• It can be used in both religious and secular contexts.

Example Sentence:

"Many people believe that celebrity culture has become a modern-day golden calf, where fame is worshipped without questioning its value."

Advanced Usage:

In literary and rhetorical contexts, "golden calf" can symbolize materialism or misplaced priorities. It can also be used to discuss societal obsessions that detract from more meaningful or important pursuits.

Word Variants:

• Golden-calf (hyphenated): Used as an adjective to describe something related to this concept, e.g., "golden-calf mentality."
• Idol: A more general term that can also relate to the idea of worshipping something undeserving.

Different Meanings:

• The original biblical meaning focuses on idolatry and false worship.
• The modern meaning expands to critique societal values and behaviors that prioritize superficial or materialistic things.

Synonyms:

• Idol
• False god
• Fetish (in a more general sense)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Worship the ground someone walks on": This means to admire someone excessively, similar to how people might idolize a golden calf.
• "Chasing after shadows": This phrase means pursuing something that isn't real or valuable, similar to the idea of worshipping a golden calf.

Summary:

The term "golden calf" serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding how people can sometimes place undue value on things that are not truly significant or deserving of such reverence.

Academic

Noun

1. (Old Testament) an idol made by Aaron for the Israelites to worship; destroyed by Moses; it is now used to refer to anything worshipped undeservedly