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to put on blast

to put on blast

3 9.5
Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did
  • phrasal verb
  • Offensive
translation icon : avergonzar públicamente
  • She put her coworker on blast for arriving late to the meeting.
  • going to put on blast

Post their names in the comments and we'll freaking put them on blast.

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Examples

  • No matter what I'm going through with my mom, I would never put her on blast like that in front of the world.

    Blog text (4)
  • I'm shocked that Carole would be put on blast!

    Blog text (29)
  • I know how it feels to be put on blast in front of thousands.

    Blog text (15)
  • But it's wrong to put her on blast like that.

    Blog text (25)
  • One Direction gets along well, but that doesn't mean the boys are above putting one another on blast.

    Blog text (14)
  • You are never going to change him by crying, pressuring him, manipulating him, putting him on blast on TV, etc., etc.

    Blog text (14)
  • Joseline Hernandez puts "Gay Lover" on blast on Twitter.

    Blog text (12)
  • She should be rewarded for that and publicly apologized to for putting her on blast like that.

    Blog text (25)
  • Trust me, if you don't put him on blast, he will continue to do what he's been doing and getting away with it because no one will speak up.

    Blog text (5)
  • I don't appreciate when you put me on blast in front of my friends.

Synonyms

to lash out
vsto put on blast
71 5.6

Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing

is similar but is planned to expose or shame publicly
to blast
vsto put on blast
  • Literature
61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

adds the element of calling out to draw attention
to smear
vsto put on blast
55 6.1

To make false or unfair statements to hurt someone's reputation

is about public shaming but not necessarily by falsehood
to bash
vsto put on blast
  • Informal
49 4.6

To criticize someone strongly and unfairly in public

is more about exposing and shaming publicly
to denigrate
vsto put on blast
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

focuses on public shaming and exposing rather than unfairness
to vilify
vsto put on blast
43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

focuses more on exposing wrongdoing to shame publicly
to roast
vsto put on blast
  • Offensive
33 5.5

To make fun of someone in a joking way, often in public

is similar but aims to shame rather than produce friendly humour
to assault
vsto put on blast
29 5.8

To attack someone strongly in speech or writing

is similar but focuses on public shaming and exposure
to revile
vsto put on blast
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is similar but usually aims to publicly shame and expose
to scorch
vsto put on blast
15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

shares severity but emphasizes exposing and shaming publicly
to castigate
vsto put on blast
  • Formal
14 8.8

To criticize or punish someone very harshly

focuses more on public humiliation than personal punishment
to flame
vsto put on blast
  • Offensive
11 7.8

To send angry, insulting messages to someone online

is the broader public shaming act beyond online attacks
to excoriate
vsto put on blast
  • Literature
9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

is similar but focuses more on shaming and exposure
to pillory
vsto put on blast
7 9.3

To criticize someone publicly to make them feel ashamed

focuses on public shaming with strong attention grabbing
to drag through the mud
vsto put on blast
  • Informal
7 7.9

To speak badly about someone in public to hurt their reputation

is like that but more about direct shaming exposure
to rip into
vsto put on blast
  • Informal
4 7.4

To attack someone with strong angry words

is similar but stresses exposing fault publicly to shame
to upbraid
vsto put on blast
  • Formal
3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is similar but emphasizes public exposure and shaming
to lambaste
vsto put on blast
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

overlaps but puts more weight on drawing public attention
to scald
vsto put on blast
1 8.1

To criticize someone or something very harshly

focuses more on shaming through public exposure and attention
to gibbet
vsto put on blast
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To expose someone to public shame or ridicule

adds the sense of seeking public shame and attention
to hit out at
vsto put on blast
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is similar but highlights shaming and drawing public attention
to blaze away
vsto put on blast
  • Informal
1 7.5

To speak angrily and strongly to criticize someone

is about public shaming with attention seeking rather than passion
to pillorize
vsto put on blast
  • US
9.9

To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed

is similar but stresses attention grabbing exposure
to excoriated
vsto put on blast
  • Literature
8.7

To criticize harshly in public or in writing

is similar but usually aims to shame and expose openly
to vituperate
vsto put on blast
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is more about public exposure and shaming than private scolding
to throw brickbats
vsto put on blast
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

adds the idea of calling out to shame or expose
to shaming
vsto put on blast
3.9

To make someone feel ashamed or embarrassed in front of other people

is the same act but with added aim of exposure and attention
to put the boot in
vsto put on blast
  • UK
9.1

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

focuses more on public exposure rather than taking advantage
to get on someone's grill
vsto put on blast
  • Slang
9.9

To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did

is similar but usually seeks public exposure rather than private confrontation
to put the bad mouth on
vsto put on blast
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is stronger by making the speech a public shaming act

Antonyms

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Shaming

to humiliate
  • Offensive
414 6.1
to put on blast
  • Offensive
3 9.5
to call out
  • Texting
68 4.6
to criticize
701 3.3
to point out
1.8

Surface Forms

put on blast infinitive
put on blast past participle
putting on blast present participle
puts on blast third person singular

Morphology

put + on + blast

The meaning 'to publicly criticize or expose' follows from combining 'put' (place into a state) + 'on' (into/onto) with 'blast' understood as a forceful verbal attack; if a learner knows 'blast' in the sense 'to lambaste', the phrase is inferable. However, the usage is colloquial/slang and relies on a non-literal, metaphorical extension of 'blast', so it is not fully predictable for all learners without prior exposure.

Etymology

Put on blast may come from the image of putting someone on a loudspeaker and then blasting them with loud words so everyone hears. That's why the phrase now means 'to publicly shame or expose' someone.