to haul over the coals
1
8.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
reprender
- 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
70
5.8
To say very bad things about someone or something
55
2.2
Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong
44
8.1
To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
37
8.1
To scold someone very strongly for something they did
37
5.9
To criticize someone strongly
33
7.6
To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong
33
6.1
To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge
26
6.9
To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions
18
6.3
To scold someone strongly for a mistake
15
7.3
To severely criticize someone or something
14
8.8
To criticize or punish someone very harshly
13
7.0
Scold someone angrily in front of others
12
8.2
To criticize someone very strongly and angrily
11
8.1
To angrily tell someone off
9
9.8
To criticize someone or something very harshly in public
5
8.3
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
4
7.9
Scold someone very strongly for a mistake
3
8.8
To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong
3
7.9
To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others
2
7.1
To scold someone angrily and severely
2
9.9
To scold someone angrily
1
8.1
To scold or punish someone angrily for something they did wrong
1
8.1
To criticize someone or something very harshly
1
8.7
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
1
7.9
To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment
1
6.8
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
To criticize someone angrily using harsh words
To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong
To angrily tell someone they did something wrong, often in front of others
To scold someone angrily for something they did
To punish or scold someone strongly for making a mistake
To attack someone with angry words
Attack someone with strong words in public
Antonyms
How Harsh
36
7.2
- Informal
1
8.6
55
2.2
31
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'.