Gallows
noun
A structure used for execution by hanging.
The criminal was led to the gallows for his punishment.
Often appears as...
- walk to the gallows
- led to the gallows
noun
Execution by hanging, or the threat of it.
They were under the gallows for their crimes.
Often appears as...
- face the gallows
- saved from the gallows
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
noun
Something that brings about the destruction or failure of a plan or action.
The financial crisis was the gallows for many small businesses.
Often appears as...
- gallows for the economy
- gallows for the project
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A structure used for execution by hanging.
The criminal was led to the gallows for his punishment.
Often appears as...
- walk to the gallows
- led to the gallows
noun
Execution by hanging, or the threat of it.
They were under the gallows for their crimes.
Often appears as...
- face the gallows
- saved from the gallows
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
noun
Something that brings about the destruction or failure of a plan or action.
The financial crisis was the gallows for many small businesses.
Often appears as...
- gallows for the economy
- gallows for the project
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Significance
Gallows were common in past justice systems, often mentioned in historical contexts.
The old castle had a gallows where traitors were once hanged.
Pro Tip 2/3Morbid Imagery
The word evokes a grim or chilling feeling, used in dark or serious storytelling.
The gallows loomed ominously in the town square, a warning to all.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
Can symbolize the impending doom or a dire outcome in literary works.
His betrayal led him straight to the gallows of public opinion.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Significance
Gallows were common in past justice systems, often mentioned in historical contexts.
The old castle had a gallows where traitors were once hanged.
Pro Tip 2/3Morbid Imagery
The word evokes a grim or chilling feeling, used in dark or serious storytelling.
The gallows loomed ominously in the town square, a warning to all.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
Can symbolize the impending doom or a dire outcome in literary works.
His betrayal led him straight to the gallows of public opinion.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Significance
Gallows were common in past justice systems, often mentioned in historical contexts.
The old castle had a gallows where traitors were once hanged.
Pro Tip 2/3Morbid Imagery
The word evokes a grim or chilling feeling, used in dark or serious storytelling.
The gallows loomed ominously in the town square, a warning to all.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
Can symbolize the impending doom or a dire outcome in literary works.
His betrayal led him straight to the gallows of public opinion.
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Video examples
The world’s most...
The letters are varied in style and height. Some are borrowed from other scripts, but many are unique. The taller letters have been named gallows characters. The manuscript is highly decorated throughout with scroll-like embellishments. It appears to be written by two or more hands,
Video examples
Sophal Ear: Escaping the...
and the girls boys' names. And it wasn't until she met a Vietnamese lady who told her this, and then tutored her for two days intensively, that she was able to go into her exam and -- you know, this was a moment of truth. If she fails, we're all headed to the gallows;
Video examples
The world’s most...
The letters are varied in style and height. Some are borrowed from other scripts, but many are unique. The taller letters have been named gallows characters. The manuscript is highly decorated throughout with scroll-like embellishments. It appears to be written by two or more hands,
Video examples
Sophal Ear: Escaping the...
and the girls boys' names. And it wasn't until she met a Vietnamese lady who told her this, and then tutored her for two days intensively, that she was able to go into her exam and -- you know, this was a moment of truth. If she fails, we're all headed to the gallows;
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Amanda Peet
American Actress
I'm a big fan of gallows humor. When my aunt passed away, she was in a coma for a day before my cousins pulled the plug. And the amount of joking and base humor that went on that day around her bed was so insane. It's crazy how people talk when something horrible is happening.
Quote examples
Allan Guthrie
Scottish Author
Maybe it's the buildings, maybe it's the weather, but you can see it affects us - that Scottish gallows humour; our tendency towards bleakness, to look at things in a negative way. Those definitely come out in my writing.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
Quote examples
James Wolcott
American Critic
A lost election can have the jolt of a drop through the gallows door, leading to a dark night of the soul in which the future presses down like a cloud that will never lift.
Quote examples
James Roday
American Actor
Gallows humor is part of our coping mechanism. It's part of our grief process. If we don't know what else to do, we laugh. That's a very real thing.
Quote examples
Bhagat Singh
Indian Activist
I will climb the gallows gladly and show to the world as to how bravely the revolutionaries can sacrifice themselves for the cause.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
If we were brought to trial for the crimes we have committed against ourselves, few would escape the gallows.
Quote examples
Fethullah Gulen
Turkish Activist
Under any circumstances, if I had to return to Turkey and face the gallows, I will not blink an eye.
Quote examples
James Adomian
American Comedian
The key to gallows humor is to make the joke, no matter how certain the gallows is.
Quote examples
Carole Radziwill
American Journalist
I, like many young widows, have very well developed gallows humor.
Quote examples
Amanda Peet
American Actress
I'm a big fan of gallows humor. When my aunt passed away, she was in a coma for a day before my cousins pulled the plug. And the amount of joking and base humor that went on that day around her bed was so insane. It's crazy how people talk when something horrible is happening.
Quote examples
Allan Guthrie
Scottish Author
Maybe it's the buildings, maybe it's the weather, but you can see it affects us - that Scottish gallows humour; our tendency towards bleakness, to look at things in a negative way. Those definitely come out in my writing.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
Quote examples
James Wolcott
American Critic
A lost election can have the jolt of a drop through the gallows door, leading to a dark night of the soul in which the future presses down like a cloud that will never lift.
Quote examples
James Roday
American Actor
Gallows humor is part of our coping mechanism. It's part of our grief process. If we don't know what else to do, we laugh. That's a very real thing.
Quote examples
Bhagat Singh
Indian Activist
I will climb the gallows gladly and show to the world as to how bravely the revolutionaries can sacrifice themselves for the cause.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
If we were brought to trial for the crimes we have committed against ourselves, few would escape the gallows.
Quote examples
Fethullah Gulen
Turkish Activist
Under any circumstances, if I had to return to Turkey and face the gallows, I will not blink an eye.
Quote examples
James Adomian
American Comedian
The key to gallows humor is to make the joke, no matter how certain the gallows is.
Quote examples
Carole Radziwill
American Journalist
I, like many young widows, have very well developed gallows humor.
Example 1 of 10
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