ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go to the scaffold

idiom
Meaning

To be executed (usually by hanging or beheading).


Examples
SIMPLE

The prisoner walked slowly as he went to the scaffold.

CONTEXTUAL

The crowd gathered in silence to watch the condemned man as he went to the scaffold.

COMPLEX

Despite his claims of innocence, the disgraced nobleman maintained his dignity as he went to the scaffold to face his final judgment.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  2. 02

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  3. 03

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  4. 04

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  5. 05

    come and go

    To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.

  6. 06

    don't go there

    Do not broach that topic.

  7. 07

    easy come, easy go

    Easily won and easily lost (usually said when resigned to a loss; something that comes in the same way, goes in the same way)

  8. 08

    enough to go around

    There is an adequate amount or supply of something for all of the people present or involved.

Last updated April 17, 2026