To make an example of someone to warn others; to punish one to deter others.
经理决定对那位经常迟到的员工进行严厉处罚，希望起到杀鸡骇猴的作用，警示其他同事。
The manager decided to severely punish the employee who was frequently late, hoping to 'kill the chicken to frighten the monkey' and warn other colleagues.
Era:
Early Modern
Frequency:
Story:
Once upon a time, a monkey trainer bought a disobedient monkey.
The trainer was very angry, so he went to the market and bought a rooster. He continuously beat gongs and drums in front of the rooster, which became frightened and dazed. The trainer seized the opportunity to kill the rooster with a knife.
The monkey sitting nearby was also terrified. From then on, whenever the trainer said something or beat the gongs and drums, the monkey would immediately and unequivocally obey the trainer's commands.
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