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altar

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lead (one) to the altar

To marry someone. I can't believe it's only a month until I lead her to the altar!

See also: altar, lead

bow to the porcelain altar

Sl. to vomit, especially as a result of drinking too much alcohol. (The porcelain altar is a euphemism for a toilet bowl.) He spent the whole night bowing to the porcelain altar. I have the feeling that I will be bowing to the porcelain altar before morning.

See also: altar, bow, porcelain

sacrifice something on the altar of something

to destroy something in order to obtain something else He sacrificed his family life on the altar of his ambition and greed.

See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice

be sacrificed on the altar of something

  (formal)

to be destroyed by an activity, system or belief that is bad but more important or more powerful Service and quality have been sacrificed on the altar of profit.

See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice

bow to the porcelain altar

in. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. (The porcelain altar is the toilet bowl.) He spent the whole night bowing to the porcelain altar.

See also: altar, bow, porcelain