rake over the coals
21haul over the coals — or[rake over the coals] {v. phr.} To criticize sharply; rebuke; scold. * /The sergeant raked the soldier over the coals for being late for roll call./ Syn.: DRESS DOWN …
22rake someone over the coals — (USA) If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely. (Dorking School Dictionary) …
23rake someone over the coals — North American way of saying haul someone over the coals (see coal). → rake …
24rake or haul over the coals — idi rake or haul over the coals, to reprimand severely …
25rake you over the coals — lecture you, scold you, ask you to explain I got raked over the coals for taking the car without asking …
26rake smb over the coals — scold, reprimand His boss raked him over the coals when he heard about the lost sales report …
27haul/rake someone over the coals — haul/rake (someone) over the coals informal : to criticize (someone) very severely I arrived late for the meeting and was immediately hauled over the coals by my boss. • • • Main Entry: ↑coal …
28haul sb over the coals — US also rake sb over the coals) ► to criticize someone severely for something they have done: »Top ministers were hauled over the coals by the select committee for failing to disclose vital information in the inquiry. Main Entry: ↑haul …
29haul somebody over the coals — haul sb over the ˈcoals idiom (BrE) (NAmE rake sb over the ˈcoals) to criticize sb severely because they have done sth wrong • I was hauled over the coals by my boss for being late. Main e …
30haul someone over the coals — british phrase to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong. The American expression is rake someone over the coals . Thesaurus: to criticize, accuse or blamesynonym to say something, or to speak to someone in an angry… …