2007-02-14 13:12:26 · 12 answers · asked by moore k 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
trying to drum up evidence to support a theory, even if there isn't necessarilly any evidence.
2007-02-14 13:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by Tiff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A witch hunt basically refers to a group of irate, ill informed people going after a person without really knowing if that person is responsible for whatever grievance the group has against him/her. It comes from the Salem witch trials back in the Colonial days, when some of the religious right from back then got it into their heads that some women could cast spells and curses, thus being witches. Obviously, it wasn't true, but it didn't stop the Puritans from killing them anyway.
2007-02-14 21:16:33 · answer #2 · answered by SuzeY 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A witch hunt usually refers to a group of people hunting someone down with no grounds to do so. It is usually brought on by mass hysteria.
Kind of like the situation in Iraq right now, wouldn't you say so?
2007-02-14 21:16:50 · answer #3 · answered by jayndee13 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In modern terminology 'witch-hunt' has a metaphorical usage, referring to the act of seeking and persecuting any perceived enemy, particularly when the search is conducted using extreme measures and with little regard to actual guilt or innocence.
It is used to describe the McCarthyism of the 1950s.
2007-02-14 21:16:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It refers to the practice of 400 years ago of hunting for a "witch" who likely was merely an old woman practicing her sympathetic magic, herbal remedies, and other vestiges of her old pagan religion instead of the Christianity governments unfortunately mandated.
In sum, it is a hunt for the innocent to convict them of something so that they become "guilty."
2007-02-14 21:16:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forms of entrapment, where scenarios are set for up naive/unsuspecting persons to act in ways natural to them, but contrary to accepted norms or orthodox views or regulations for purposes of harassment or punishment is witch hunting. Natural ways may be belief systems, cultural norms, to name a few.
Take a fictitious example: - a firefighter is given the weekend off with no clauses indicating he would be “on-call”. His supervisor knows full well that his weekend agenda includes a bachelor’s night party. He calls him up 5 am on Sunday, pleads with him to come to the station to help resolve a problem. When he kindly obliges, he is nicely requested to clock in for duty then given a breathalyzer test...
2007-02-14 22:02:13 · answer #6 · answered by hunu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a general term meaning someone is looking to find someone to blame even if it means blaming an innocent person.
Kind of like "some" cops when they don't want to look for real suspects and to save work, blame the handiest person.
In the work place a supervisor may accuse a worker of sloppy work, when its somebody else's fault, and they the supervisor just don't care as long as somebody takes the fall. They'll do this even when its their own fault and need to cover their own incompetence.
The innocent party is known as a "scape goat".
2007-02-14 21:27:38 · answer #7 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Useing any means possible to prosecute someone or something regardless of guilt.
2007-02-14 21:17:15 · answer #8 · answered by Donnie C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're trying to blame someone for things that have gone bad.
2007-02-14 21:15:40 · answer #9 · answered by upallnight 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lawsuit. or a class action lawsuit .
2007-02-14 21:15:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋