Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

break a butterfly upon the wheel

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables: break a but-ter-fly- upon the wheel
IPA

52

Scrabble Score

27

Letters

4

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence.

verb

To employ great exertions for insignificant ends.

Example Sentences

"Let Paris tremble—“What? that Thing of ſilk, “Paris, that mere white Curd of Aſs’s milk? “Satire or Shame alas! can Paris feel? “Who breaks a Butterfly upon a Wheel?” Yet let me flap this Bug with gilded wings, This painted Child of Dirt that ſtinks and ſtings"

Etymology

Coined by English poet Alexander Pope in 1734 in Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot.

Inflected Forms

breaks a butterfly upon the wheel (present, singular) breaking a butterfly upon the wheel (participle, present) broke a butterfly upon the wheel (past) broken a butterfly upon the wheel (participle, past) break a butterfly on a wheel (alternative) break a butterfly on the wheel (alternative) break a butterfly upon a wheel (alternative) break a fly on a wheel (alternative) break a fly on the wheel (alternative) break a fly upon a wheel (alternative) break a fly upon the wheel (alternative)

Phrases

butterfly upon a wheel use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

Frequently Paired Words

butterfly upon a wheel use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

Questions

What does break a butterfly upon the wheel mean?: To inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence.
Where does break a butterfly upon the wheel come from?: Coined by English poet Alexander Pope in 1734 in Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot.

How to pronounce break a butterfly upon the wheel

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “break a butterfly upon the wheel”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “break a butterfly upon the wheel”.
Repeat and practice — Say “break a butterfly upon the wheel” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.