break a butterfly upon the wheel

English

Alternative forms

• break a butterfly on a wheel
• break a butterfly on the wheel
• break a butterfly upon a wheel
• break a fly on a wheel
• break a fly on the wheel
• break a fly upon a wheel
• break a fly upon the wheel

Etymology

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

Verb

break a butterfly upon the wheel (third-person singular simple present breaks a butterfly upon the wheel, present participle breaking a butterfly upon the wheel, simple past broke a butterfly upon the wheel, past participle broken a butterfly upon the wheel)

1. To inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence.
   • 1734, Alexander Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot:

     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

2. To employ great exertions for insignificant ends.

Related terms

• butterfly upon a wheel

Translations

to inflict a punishment out of all proportion

to employ great exertions for insignificant ends

• Finnish: ampua tykillä kärpästä

See also

• use a sledgehammer to crack a nut