to rake over the coals
4
7.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
criticar duramente
- After his poor performance, the coach didn't hold back and raked him over the coals in front of the team.
- get raked over the coals
- just raked over the coals
Examples
-
President's getting raked over the coals over this Manson trial declaration.
-
Herman would have gotten raked over the coals if he hadn't said anything to condemn what was on the rock, whether it had to do with Perry's family or not.
Blog text (1) -
And I'm getting raked over the coals because of a little dinner.
-
The way he was raked over the coals for "Travelgate."
Blog text (17) -
She rakes us over the coals.
Academic text (1998) -
On the other hand, the White House made no bones about raking liberals and progressives over the coals.
Blog text (14) -
There's a reason that Romney's being raked over the coals for trying to use this against Obama.
Blog text (19) -
Sandra Fluke was raked over the coals for being a smart, articulate woman.
Blog text (33) -
I was once raked over the coals for suggesting something about Ezra Klein's employment, including by John Cole himself, to the point where a friend from work who also reads this site said I was being massacred.
Blog text (29) -
The politician was raked over the coals by the press for his controversial remarks.
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
7.7
To express strong disapproval of someone, often in an official statement
26
6.9
To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions
23
8.2
To say angry, insulting things about someone or something
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
7
5.8
Criticize someone in a very unkind way
5
8.3
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
3
7.9
To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others
3
8.8
To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong
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
8.7
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
1
8.0
To criticize someone or something very strongly in public
1
8.1
To criticize someone or something very harshly
1
6.8
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
1
8.6
To scold someone very strongly for a mistake
To tell someone off angrily
To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did
Attack someone with strong words in public
To criticize someone angrily using harsh words
To attack someone with angry words
To scold someone angrily for something they did
Antonyms
How Harsh
36
7.2
- Informal
4
7.9
- Formal
26
6.9
- Formal
33
6.1
55
2.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although 'rake' and 'coal' have clear literal meanings, the idiomatic sense 'to criticize or reprimand severely' is not directly predictable from 'rake' (to scrape or comb) + 'coal' (hot embers). Any metaphorical link (heat/pain) is abstract and culturally specific, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely not infer the intended meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
The idiom rake over the coals may come from the image of someone using a rake to stir hot coals in a fire, sending heat and sparks toward the person near the fire. That's why today it means 'to criticize or scold someone very severely'.