sacrifice someone or something on the altar of

sacrifice (something) on the altar of (something)

To abandon something in exchange for something else (which is stated after "of"). I know you want to help your family, but you can't sacrifice your happiness on the altar of servitude. It seems that the curriculum at this school has been sacrificed on the altar of profit.See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice

sacrifice someone or something on the altar of

make someone or something suffer in the interests of someone or something else. 1994 Post (Denver) The cherished goal of a color-blind society…has been sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. See also: altar, of, on, sacrifice, someone, something