lash out

For the verb's chief current sense (to attack suddenly), surface analysis suggests reaching out with the lash (either literally or figuratively); however, the verb is entered in various early-19th-century dictionaries with various senses, only some of which have to do with attacking, kicking, or similar. One of them corresponds to today's splash out (that is, to break out into spending), while another corresponds to breaking out into expressing oneself verbally.

lash out (third-person singular simple present lashes out, present participle lashing out, simple past and past participle lashed out)

1. To make a sudden violent attack.
   • 2019 September 18, Drachinifel, 25:58 from the start, in Battle of Tsushima - When the 2nd Pacific Squadron thought it couldn't get any worse...‎, archived from the original on 4 December 2022:

     Four Japanese torpedo boats launch an attack on the Suvorov. Despite burning steadily for several hours and now taking a torpedo to the stern, the ship still lashes out at its attackers with a few remaining guns. With no pressing need to continue the attack to closer range, the torpedo boats fall back, noting the position for a night attack if Suvorov survives that long.

2. (figurative) To make a fierce verbal attack.

   The man lashed out at me when I asked if it was his own hair.

   • 2021 October 17, Katrin Bennhold, “Fake Polls and Tabloid Coverage on Demand: The Dark Side of Sebastian Kurz”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     He [Sebastian Kurz] has lashed out at the justice system, accusing prosecutors of being politically motivated.

3. (intransitive) To splash out (spend a lot of money)

• outlash