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sacred
The word "sacred" is most commonly used in religious contexts to describe things like temples, texts, or rituals. It can also be used in a non-religious way to describe something that is extremely important and must not be changed or broken, such as a "sacred promise" or a "sacred tradition." In modern conversation, it is a formal word. Using it for everyday things may sound very dramatic or serious.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon; Victoria is in a high-stakes board meeting while Mr. Sterling is at his private spa.
Mr. Sterling
Victoria, my nap time is sacred. Please hold off on the quarterly report.
Victoria
The board is literally breathing down my neck. Wake up.
💡
Mr. Sterling uses 'sacred' in the second sense of the definition (not to be violated/highly respected) to describe his nap, highlighting his eccentricity. Victoria uses the idiom 'breathing down my neck', meaning someone is monitoring her closely and putting pressure on her to perform.