sacrifice

S2 W2

BrE /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ AmE /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/

noun / verb en → es

past sacrificed pp sacrificed ing sacrificing

1 ANIMAL B2

a ceremony in which an animal or person is killed to please a god or spirit, especially in ancient times

sacrificio de animales o personas

2 ACTION [transitive] B1

an act of giving up something that you like or need in order to help someone else or achieve a goal

sacrificio, renuncia

  • make a sacrifice for somebody/something

Collocations make a personal sacrifice · make a financial sacrifice

  • She made the sacrifice of giving up her job to look after her sick mother.

    Ella hizo el sacrificio de dejar su trabajo para cuidar a su madre enferma.

3 PERSON C1

a person who is killed as part of a religious ceremony or war

víctima de sacrificio, mártir

Phrasal verbs

sacrifice something to somebody/something GIVE UP B2

hacer un sacrificio a alguien o algo, renunciar a algo por alguien o algo

  • The government sacrificed the environment to economic growth.

    El gobierno sacrificó el medio ambiente al crecimiento económico.

sacrifice something for somebody/something GIVE UP FOR B2

hacer un sacrificio por alguien o algo, renunciar a algo para alguien o algo

  • He sacrificed his career for his family.

    Él sacrificó su carrera por su familia.

Idioms

sacrifice something at the altar of something C1

hacer un sacrificio en el altar de algo, renunciar a algo en favor de algo

  • She sacrificed her social life at the altar of her career.

    Ella sacrificó su vida social en el altar de su carrera.

sacrifice something on the altar of something C1

hacer un sacrificio sobre el altar de algo, renunciar a algo por algo

  • He sacrificed his health on the altar of success.

    Él sacrificó su salud en el altar del éxito.