How do you actually kill a mockingbird?
The phrase "to kill a mockingbird," generally attributed to Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," does not imply a literal killing of a bird species known as a mockingbird. The context of the novel portrays the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence and harmlessness, and the title signifies the significance of protecting and valuing vulnerable beings. It carries moral and metaphorical weight, not an instruction to harm or kill a physical bird.