Idiom
burn someone at the stake
Theme: SCOLDING
to chastise or denounce someone severely, but without violence.Stop yelling. I made a simple mistake, and you're burning me at the stake for it.Sally only spilled her milk. There is no need to shout. Don't burn her at the stake for it.
Idiom
burn someone at the stake
Theme: PUNISHMENT
to set fire to a person tied to a post (as a form of execution).They used to burn witches at the stake.Look, officer, I only ran a stop sign. What are you going to do, burn me at the stake?