Teacher Lays Down One Rule In Tough Classroom

What does “make an example out of somebody” mean in American English?

Make an example out of somebody is a common American English phrase. It means to punish one person in front of a group, so that everyone else learns from it. The teacher in this clip warns the class: “I have to make an example out of somebody.” She is saying that one student will get punished, and the rest of the class will see it and behave.

The phrase is older than American school. It comes from courts and the army, where one tough punishment was used as a warning to others. Today you’ll hear it most in teacher talk, parent talk, and any place where a leader wants people to follow the rules.