to rake over old coals
- idiom
- Informal
:
revivir viejos rencores
- There's no need to rake over old coals—let's focus on the future instead.
Examples
-
Please don't rake over old coals during our meeting.
-
I wish he wouldn't rake over old coals every time we talk.
-
Every time they argue, she ends up raking over old coals from years ago.
-
Why do you always have to rake over old coals instead of moving on?
-
Every time they argue, she ends up raking over old coals from years ago.
-
There's no need to rake over old coals—let's focus on the future instead.
-
I wish he wouldn't rake over old coals every time we talk.
Synonyms
18
6.2
To mention an unpleasant or forgotten memory from the past
1
7.4
Cause people to remember old hurts or problems
1
6.8
Bring up old unpleasant events or arguments in public unnecessarily
1
6.8
To talk about bad things from the past that are better left forgotten
To keep talking about old mistakes or bad events unnecessarily
Remember past events on purpose, often ones you would rather forget
Carefully examine and discuss a topic, often when it is difficult or unpleasant
To make old feelings or memories strong again
Antonyms
How Often
- Informal
18
6.2
24
6.4
72
3.7
788
2.6
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression evokes a metaphor (literally stirring old embers) so there is a recognisable connection between 'rake' and 'old coals' and the idea of disturbing past matters. However, the jump from that literal image to the specific sense 'bring up past arguments' is figurative and culturally encoded, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would likely not fully predict the meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Rake over old coals comes from the picture of someone using a rake to stir old coals in a fireplace, which can make the fire burn again or send up smoke. So, to rake over old coals means 'to bring up past arguments or painful memories' and cause trouble again.