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I've read this idom from an article, and it seems that the phrase "skewer a sacred cow" mean "to criticize" but I am not very sure.

Does anyone know the exact meaning and the origin of this idom?

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    google.com/search?q=define+sacred+cow
    – mplungjan
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 9:41
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    Macmillan's definition: sacred cow [noun] something that many people think is too important to change, question, or criticize. or skewer. [last two words not in original]
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 9:43
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    Sacred cow is an idiom; skewer a sacred cow is not.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 10:45
  • @Colin I'm betting it gets there.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 13:44

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Sacred cow

The figurative use of the term 'sacred cow', to refer to a project or process that is immune from tampering, is American in origin and also dates from the late 19th century.

Source: The Phrase Finder

To skewer a sacred cow, means to defy what is generally held as indisputable.

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