Definition: When someone habitually sacrifices their own well-being to appease others, performing elaborate acts of emotional labor until they’re metaphorically reduced to ashes. Often disguised as virtue signaling, these martyrs confuse self-destruction with nobility while their “takers” toast marshmallows over the flames.
The term exposes the toxic trap of conflating generosity with self-immolation. Unlike healthy giving, a charity pyre leaves you scorched, smelling of resentment, while the beneficiaries just request more kindling for their cozy bonfire of entitlement.
Example:
Lena skipped meals and sleep for weeks organizing her sister’s wedding, only to hear complaints about the cake flavor while collapsing exhausted.
He worked unpaid overtime daily, believing dedication meant promotion, while his boss enjoyed vacations funded by his exploited labor, demanding even more.