golden calf

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Let me say this plainly: this is not a golden calf," he said later that night on X, referring to the Old Testament idol that famously made Moses irate after he received the Commandments.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The focus on the fate of the golden calf is understandable.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2023

As the Guardian’s Jason Farago reported late last year, director Romeo Castellucci’s recent production for Paris’s Opera Bastille included “a real live golden calf – a bull, actually”.

From The Guardian • Mar. 29, 2016

Groaned the bobby-soxers’ golden calf: “Di’nt seem hard a’tall. Ah’m sure Ah passed!”

From Time • Mar. 24, 2015

Trotter sucked in her breath and glowered down at her like Moses at the Israelites’ golden calf.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson