rake over the coals

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It has been requested that this entry be merged with rake someone over the coals(+).

English

Etymology

The 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

Verb

rake 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)

  1. (idiomatic) To call to task or to reprimand severely.

References

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Sagapedia