rake over the coals
English
editEtymology
editThe earliest example given is from 1565: "S. Augustine, that knewe best how to fetche an heretike ouer the coles." (OED). From the practice of dragging or raking heretics over coals performed by the Catholic Church as a form of torture.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
editrake over the coals (third-person singular simple present rakes over the coals, present participle raking over the coals, simple past and past participle raked over the coals)
- (idiomatic) To call to task or to reprimand severely.
- She raked him over the coals for lying to her.
Synonyms
editReferences
edit- Oxford English Dictionary
- Your Dictionary.com
- “rake over the coals”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.