to haul over the coals
1
8.6
- idiom
- Informal
- The teacher hauled over the coals the student for not completing his homework.
Examples
-
The manager decided to haul over the coals the team for missing the deadline.
-
After the incident, the coach had to haul over the coals the players for their poor performance.
-
When he was hauled over the coals, he was angry and refused to confess the error of his ways.
Fiction book (1993) -
The FBI and Homeland Security, etc., would be hauled over the coals without mercy for their inaction.
Blog text (14) -
Warren Hastings got hauled over the coals for various misdeeds and spent the greater part of his fortune defending his actions in Parliament.
Blog text (32)
Synonyms
66
5.8
To say very bad things about someone or something
58
8.1
To angrily tell someone off
54
2.2
Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong
54
5.9
To criticize someone strongly
35
8.1
To scold someone very strongly for something they did
33
6.1
To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge
32
7.6
To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong
25
6.9
To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions
25
7.0
Scold someone angrily in front of others
20
6.3
To scold someone strongly for a mistake
14
8.8
To criticize or punish someone very harshly
11
8.2
To criticize someone very strongly and angrily
10
7.1
To scold someone angrily and severely
9
9.8
To criticize someone or something very harshly in public
7
7.9
To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment
6
7.9
Scold someone very strongly for a mistake
5
8.7
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
4
7.9
To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others
3
8.3
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
3
9.9
To angrily tell someone they did something wrong, often in front of others
3
8.8
To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong
3
7.3
To severely criticize someone or something
3
7.9
To punish or scold someone strongly for making a mistake
1
6.8
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
1
8.1
To criticize someone or something very harshly
1
9.9
To scold someone angrily
1
9.3
To scold someone angrily for something they did
1
8.9
Attack someone with strong words in public
1
9.9
To criticize someone angrily using harsh words
1
8.1
To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
To scold or punish someone angrily for something they did wrong
To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong
To attack someone with angry words
Antonyms
How Harsh
36
7.2
- Informal
1
8.6
54
2.2
30
6.8
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
haul + over + the + coals
Although the constituent words ('haul' = pull/drag, 'coals' = hot embers) have clear literal meanings, the idiomatic meaning 'to reprimand or punish severely' is not directly derivable from those parts; the expression uses an archaic metaphorical image that a B1 learner who knows the words is unlikely to map onto criticism. The phrase is culturally and historically grounded and behaves like a fixed idiom, so its meaning is unpredictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The idiom haul over the coals may come from the image of a harsh punishment where someone was dragged across hot coals. Because that picture is painful and public, haul over the coals now means 'to reprimand someone severely'.