drawn

*drawn and quartered

Fig. to be dealt with very severely. (Now fig. except in historical accounts; refers to a former practice of torturing someone guilty of treason, usually a male, by disembowling and dividing the body into four parts. *Typically: be ~; have someone ~. Fixed order.) Todd was practically drawn and quartered for losing the Wilson contract. You were much too harsh with Jean. No matter what she did, she didn't need to be drawn and quartered for it!

See also: and, quarter

drawn like a moth to a flame

Fig. attracted [to someone or some event] instinctively or very strongly, as a moth is drawn to the light of a flame. Customers were drawn to the sale like a moth to aflame. They came from all over and bought up everything in the store.

See also: flame, like, moth

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be at daggers drawn  (British & Australian)

if two people or groups are at daggers drawn, they are angry and ready to fight or argue with each other

Usage notes: A dagger is a sharp pointed knife that was used in the past as a weapon.

(often + with ) Local residents are at daggers drawn with the council over rubbish collection. (often + over ) The two countries have several times been at daggers drawn over the future of the island.

See look daggers at

See also: dagger

the battle lines are drawn

something that you say when two arguing groups have discovered exactly what they disagree about, and are ready to fight each other The battle lines are drawn for the leadership contest.

See also: battle, line