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Sent to Coventry

To send someone to Coventry is an English idiom meaning to deliberately ostracise someone. Typically, this is done by not talking to them, avoiding someone's company, and generally pretending that they no longer exist and turning your back on them. Victims are treated as though they are completely invisible and inaudible.This practice is mostly active in the workplace...!

 

The origin of the phrase is unknown, although it is quite probable that events in Coventry in the English Civil War in the 1640's play a part. One hypothesis as to its origin is based upon ‘The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England’, by Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. In this work, Clarendon recounts how Royalist troops that were captured in Birmingham were taken as prisoners to Coventry, which was a Parliamentarian stronghold. These troops were often not received warmly by the locals and completely ignored.

 

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Uploaded on August 26, 2016