get a shellacking

1. To be thoroughly beaten or thrashed; to suffer rough treatment or abuse. My younger brother was always a shy, skinny kid who often got a shellacking from schoolyard bullies. My feet have gotten a shellacking from hiking in these old sneakers. I got a shellacking at football tryouts, and my entire body hurts now.

2. To be soundly defeated or bested; to lose by a wide margin. Their team's inexperience showed on the field today, as they got a shellacking from the New England Patriots. Their party got an absolute shellacking in the recent elections, losing nearly two thirds of their seats in Congress. The final score was 17–1? Wow, they really got a shellacking last night!