make an example of

make an example of (third-person singular simple present makes an example of, present participle making an example of, simple past and past participle made an example of)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To punish someone so as to give a warning to others; sometimes, to overpunish them for added deterrence.

   He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.

   Most people got away with Napster piracy, but a few people were sued for gigantic sums because copyright holders intended to make an example of them.

• pour encourager les autres