get a hammering

1. To be thoroughly beaten or thrashed. Because my younger brother was always a shy, skinny kid, he often got a hammering from schoolyard bullies. Kids today! If I'd said those kinds of insolent things to my parents, I would have gotten a hammering! I worry that our smaller forwards are going to get a hammering from their hulking defensemen.

2. To be soundly defeated or bested; to lose by a wide margin. Their team's inexperience showed on the pitch today, as they got a hammering from the powerful squad from New Zealand. Their party got an absolute hammering in the recent elections, losing nearly two thirds of their seats in Congress. The final score was 17–1? Wow, we sure got a hammering, huh?

3. To be very strongly rebuked, criticized, condemned, or punished. The giant supermarket chain has gotten a hammering lately over allegations that they've been threatening local shops and markets. Mark sure got a hammering because of that prank he pulled in class yesterday. A: "Oof, you're definitely gonna get a hammering when the boss finds out you lost that big account." B: "Thanks for reminding me."

give somebody/get a ˈhammering

(British English, informal) beat somebody/be beaten severely or easily; punish somebody/be punished hard: Real Madrid gave the other team a hammering. ♢ When I was young, I once stole some money from my mother. I got a real hammering when she found out.