get a tongue-lashing

To receive a harsh verbal reprimand. The sales team got a real tongue-lashing from the boss after profits dropped for the fourth straight quarter. I knew I was going to get a tongue-lashing when I got home because of the grades on my latest report card. You got a tongue-lashing from Mom, huh? Guess she found out you're the one who broke her antique vase.

give (one) a tongue-lashing

To give one a harsh verbal reprimand. The boss gave his sales team a real tongue-lashing after seeing a drop in profits for the fourth straight month. I knew my parents were going to give me a tongue-lashing when they saw the poor grades on my latest report card. The headmaster gave us quite a tongue-lashing for that prank we pulled.

have a tongue-lashing

To receive a harsh verbal reprimand. The sales team had a real tongue-lashing from the boss after profits dropped for the fourth straight quarter. I knew I was going to have a tongue-lashing when I got home because of the grades on my latest report card. You had a tongue-lashing from Mom, huh? Guess she found out you're the one who broke her antique vase.

lash (someone, something, or oneself) to (something)

To tie or bind someone, something, or oneself to something. They lashed the prisoner to the chair to begin interrogating him for answers. We began lashing everything to the floor so nothing would break during the hurricane. The captain lashed himself to the wheel of the ship to make sure it stayed on course through the intense storm.

lash about

1. To writhe, flail, or fling around wildly, violently, or uncontrollably. One of the cables came loose in the wind and lashed about across the deck of the boat. The toddler started lashing about in the midst of his tantrum.

2. To swing or flail something around wildly, violently, or uncontrollably. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "lash" and "about." The lion tamer lashed his whip about to impress the audience. The wind lashed the flag about all night long, but it never came unfixed from the flagpole.

See also: lash

lash against

1. To beat, flail, or strike violently or wildly against someone or something. The waves lashed against the side of our boat during the storm.

2. To swing, whip, or flail something against someone or something. In this usage a noun or pronoun is used between "lash" and "against." The wind kept lashing the branches of the tree against my window.

See also: lash

lash around

1. To writhe, flail, or fling around wildly, violently, or uncontrollably. One of the cables came loose in the wind and lashed around across the deck of the boat. The toddler started lashing around in the midst of his tantrum.

2. To swing or flail something around wildly, violently, or uncontrollably. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "lash" and "around." The lion tamer lashed his whip around to impress the audience. The wind lashed the flag around all night long, but it never came unfixed from the flagpole.

lash at (someone or something)

1. To beat, flail, or strike someone or something violently or wildly. The wind lashed at our windows so hard that I thought they might actually break at one point. The warden lashed at the prisoners with a whip for failing to move quickly enough.

2. To criticize, rebuke, or react to someone or something with sudden, intense anger. Often worded as "lash out at (someone or something)." The boss lashed at the intern for mixing up the documents for the year-end audit. The senator lashed out at reporters for continuing to question his role in the controversy.

See also: lash

lash back (at someone or something)

To retaliate against someone or something with an intense physical or verbal attack. The protesters lashed back at the police with a volley of bricks and rocks. The senator lashed back at critics of his tax-reform proposal during a press conference this afternoon.

lash down

1. Of rain, to fall very heavily. It's been lashing down for the last hour or so. It's dry at the moment, but with how dark those clouds are it looks like it could lash down at any moment.

2. To tie or strap someone or something down very tightly. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "lash" and "down." Make sure to lash that timber down before we start driving, or else it will all spill out onto the road. They lashed the prisoner down to the table and began torturing him to extract information.

lash down on (someone or something)

Of rain, to fall very heavily on someone or something. I love the sound of rain lashing down on the roof of the house at night. It's dry at the moment, but those dark clouds look like they could lash down on us at any moment.

lash into (someone or something)

1. To attack someone or something, either physically or verbally, with intense and sudden anger or aggression. The boss lashed into the intern for mixing up the documents for the year-end audit. The farmer lashed into the mule with his whip.

2. To begin eating something very hastily, greedily, or voraciously. The boss lashed into the intern for mixing up the documents for the year-end audit. The farmer lashed into the mule with his whip.

See also: lash

lash out

1. To physically swing or strike out at someone or something, usually unexpectedly. That ornery old cat will lash out at you if you get too close.

2. To react with sudden, intense anger. Hey, don't lash out at me, I'm just the messenger! I couldn't help but lash out when I heard about the latest printing mishap.

See also: lash, out

lash together

1. To tie or bind two people or things together. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lash" and "together." The criminals began lashing hostages together so no one would be out of their sight. Make sure to lash these wooden beams together so they don't roll around the truck while we're driving.

2. To assemble or create something very hastily or carelessly; to cobble something together. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lash" and "together." I had completely forgotten about the presentation I had to give, so I just lashed together some sales charts and reports generated by computer. You can tell that he lashed the essay together at the last second.

lash up

1. To secure or bind something (to something else), especially at a higher level. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lash" and "up." I had to use a bungee cable to lash my bike up to the railing outside my office. We lashed up a sign telling everyone about the new rules.

2. To construct something very hastily, haphazardly, or shoddily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lash" and "up." We'll have to lash up a rudimentary fence to keep the cattle in until we get the material in for a proper one. You can tell they lashed these houses up as quickly and as cheaply as possible.

tongue-lashing

A harsh verbal reprimand. The boss gave his sales team a real tongue-lashing after seeing a drop in profits for the fourth straight month.

lash against something

[for something, such as wind or water] to beat or whip heavily against something. The angry waves lashed against the hull of the boat, frightening the people huddled inside. The wind lashed against the house and kept us awake all night.

See also: lash

lash out (at someone or something)

and lash out (against someone or something)

to strike out in defense or attack—physically or verbally. Amy was angry with Ed and lashed out at him just to show who was boss. She was so angry with him that she just lashed out against him. Gretchen was fed up with the cat and lashed out savagely in her anger.

See also: lash, out

lash someone or something down

to tie someone or something down. The villain lashed Nell down to the railroad tracks. He lashed down the innocent victim. Lash that cask down so it doesn't wash overboard.

lash something about

to whip or fling something about violently. The big cat lashed its tail threateningly. The strong wind lashed the tall grass about.

See also: lash

lash something together

to tie something or things together. Let's lash these logs together and make a raft. Lash two or three of the poles together to make them stronger.

*tongue-lashing

Fig. a severe scolding. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I really got a tongue-lashing when I got home. Ted will have a tongue-lashing at home.

lash out

Make a sudden blow or fierce verbal attack. For example, The mule lashed out with its hind legs, or After listening to Dad's criticism of his driving, Arthur lashed out at him. [Second half of 1500s]

See also: lash, out

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

give someone a tongue-lashing

INFORMAL

If someone gives you a tongue-lashing, they speak very angrily to you about something that you have done. The President of the EU Commission was given a tongue-lashing from the British Prime Minister. Note: You can also say that someone gets a tongue-lashing. Spot got the tongue-lashing that I felt I should have shared. Note: An occasion when someone speaks like this can be called a tongue-lashing. After a cruel tongue-lashing, he threw the girl out of the group.

lash out

1. To aim a sudden blow; strike: The horse lashed out with its hind legs.

2. To make a scathing verbal or written attack on someone or something: The mayor lashed out at her critics during the interview. The defendant lashed out when asked about his arrest record.

See also: lash, out

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