get a pasting
1. 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 pasting from the powerful squad from New Zealand. We hadn't been practicing during the off-season at all, so we got quite a pasting in our first game. We sure got a pasting tonight—12–1.
2. To be very strongly rebuked, criticized, condemned, or punished. The giant supermarket chain has gotten a pasting lately over allegations that they've been threatening local shops and markets. Mark sure got a pasting because of that prank he pulled in class yesterday. My younger brother was always a shy, skinny kid who often got a pasting from schoolyard bullies.
give (one) a pasting
1. To strike or beat one very severely. The guy gave me a pasting after I insulted his girlfriend. I think he broke my jaw! The bullies always gave Tom a pasting during the school's lunch hour. The bouncer hauled the drunkard out of the bar and gave him a pasting in the back alley.
2. To soundly defeat or best one; to defeat one by a wide margin. Their team's inexperience showed on the pitch today, as the powerful squad from New Zealand really gave them a pasting. Look, no one is expecting you to win the match. Just don't let him give you a pasting, all right? The Owls sure gave us a pasting tonight—12–1.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.