lit. to kill a chicken in front of a monkey; fig. to make an example of sb (by punishment) to frighten others
Definitions (Wiktionary)
phrase, idiomatic
To make an example of someone; to punish someone as an example to frighten others (syn.) 斬狗教猴, 殺雞給猴看, 打兒騾子馬驚, 殺狗教猴, 㓾狗教猴, 刣雞教猴, 刣狗猻乞猿望, 殺雞嚇猴, 打狗教猴, 殺一儆百, 殺雞駭猴, 殺雞教猴, 殺雞儆猴