what does witch hunting mean?

[dianal]

what has the term "witch hunting" come to mean in the american language?

 

[Tom]

In colloquial speaking it generally means that you are to be judged guilty regardless of what you have to say.

Say you have a job and even though you lacked a high school diploma you worked there 5 years and are super. All of a sudden you are brought to a meeting where the boss wants to get rid of people without hs diplomas but asks you to state why you should stay. Regardless of what you say you will be fired. That is a witch hunt.

 

[TeaCeHer]

A "witch-hunt" is making false accusations of someone, or a specific group of people, based on a common fear of the overall community. Check out the following for more information:
Salem Witch Trials
House UnAmerican Activities Committee
Sen. Joe McCarthy
"The Crucible"
McLaren Pre-school

The most recent "witch-hunt" in American history began after 9/11 when Arab Americans began being unjustly targeted as potential terrorists simply because they are Arabs. The community at large allows it to happen based on the common fear generated because of 9/11.

 

[Shayne]

Generally it can mean a government or church sanctioned persecution of people by word of mouth, generally more for political reasons. The so-called witches are people that may be from other countries or places, and can be blamed as scapegoats for anything wrong in the community. They can be rounded up and persecuted by a church or political leader to make them look good.