Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In the phrase to out-herod Herod, to be more violent than Herod (as represented in the old mystery plays); hence, to exceed in any excess of evil.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To surpass (Herod) in violence or wickedness; to exceed in any vicious or offensive particular. Compare outpope the pope.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb surpass someone in cruelty or evil

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Simon-Pure Southerner from the very fact of their nativity, and visited with the most horrible retribution wherever they have shown a leaning toward the land of their birth, they find it necessary to out-herod

    The Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No. V, May, 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy Various

  • (For Virgil and Nativity play and prophecy see authorities in Comparetti, "Virgil in Middles Ages", p. 310 sqq.) "To out-herod Herod", i.e. to over-act, dates from

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

  • Every man’s invention seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to set one half of your men of wit into a brown study to produce something which should out-herod it.”

    The Fortunes of Nigel 2004

  • Every man's invention seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to set one half of your men of wit into a brown study to produce something which should out-herod it. "

    The Fortunes of Nigel Walter Scott 1801

Comments

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  • The poor, given voice in debate,
    Often parrot the lies of the great;
    So error is mirrored,
    They out-herod Herod
    And blame but themselves for their fate.

    September 15, 2014