idolise

Everyday

1. To admire or love someone very much, often too much, as if they were perfect — a star, a sports player or an older brother or sister. tree →
2. (religion) Literally, to treat something as an idol to worship; Jews, Christians and Muslims teach that worshipping idols is wrong. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life children idolise footballers, singers, YouTubers or older siblings. In PSHE lessons pupils talk about role models and remember that no one is perfect. In stories, a character who idolises someone may learn that the hero has flaws. Phrases: idolise someone, idolised by fans, a hero he idolised.

Examples

• My little brother idolises his favourite footballer and copies his haircut. tree →
• She idolised her big sister and followed her everywhere. tree →
• Millions of fans idolise the singer. tree →
• It's fine to admire people, but don't idolise them; everyone makes mistakes. tree →
• As a boy he idolised the astronauts on the Moon. tree →
• The Bible warns against idolising things like money. tree →

Note

UK spelling «idolise», US «idolize»; both are correct. Noun: «idol» (a person who is idolised, or a statue worshipped as a god). Do not confuse «idol» with «idle» (lazy, not working) — they sound the same.