sent to coventry

The phrase "sent to Coventry" is an expression used to describe the act of intentionally ignoring or ostracizing someone within a group or community. It implies isolating an individual by refusing to speak or interact with them. This phrase originated from the city of Coventry in England, where during the English Civil War, prisoners of war from the Parliamentarian side were sent to Coventry and ignored by the local residents as a form of punishment. Thus, being "sent to Coventry" symbolizes social exclusion and rejection by one's peers.