What does being raked over the coals mean?

Reprimand severely
Reprimand severely, as in When Dad finds out about the damage to the car, he’s sure to rake Peter over the coals, or The coach hauled him over the coals for missing practice. These terms allude to the medieval torture of pulling a heretic over red-hot coals. [ Early 1800s]

Where does the term rake over the coals come from?

The terms rake over the coals and haul over the coals have ominous etymologies, as they refer to events that literally occurred. The terms are inspired by a certain torture that was applied to heretics in the Middle Ages, involving dragging the prisoner bodily over a bed of red-hot coals.

What does raked over mean?

chiefly British, informal. : to continue to think or talk about (something that happened in the past) Don’t spend so much time raking over the past.

What does haul him over the coals mean?

DEFINITIONS1. to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong. The American expression is rake someone over the coals. Synonyms and related words. To criticize, accuse or blame.

Is Hanky Panky idiom?

Meaning of Idiom ‘Hanky Panky’ Hanky panky refers to kissing, touching, and sometimes sexual activity, especially if it is secret or not part of a serious relationship. The term sometimes refers to infidelity or sexual misconduct. Dishonest or deceitful behavior; trickery; misbehavior.

What does the idiom have a blast mean?

to have a blast: to have a good time, to really enjoy oneself. idiom. We had a blast at Disneyland; we really had a super time.

What is a jaundiced eye?

Someone who looks upon something with a jaundiced eye is most often perceived as having been harmed or tricked in the past and is world-wise. The word jaundiced is an adjective that means showing distaste, envy or bitterness. It is derived from the word jaundice which means yellow.

What does the idiom a finger in every pie mean?

Another form of this idiom is have a finger in every pie, meaning “to have an interest in or be involved in everything,” as in She does a great deal for the town; she has a finger in every pie.

What does a flick through mean?

(flick through something) to turn the pages of a book, magazine, newspaper etc very quickly looking at some of the pages for a very short time. Synonyms and related words. To read something quickly. glance.

What does it mean to rake someone?

To nag, criticize, or berate one, especially at length. I wish you’d quit raking on me—I told you I was sorry! The boss started raking on Thomas in front of the whole office for messing up the Robertson accounts.

What does panky mean?

Hanky-panky is sexual activity between two people, especially when this is regarded as improper or not serious. [humorous, informal] Does this mean no hanky-panky after lights out? Synonyms: sex [informal], sexual activity, lovemaking, nookie [slang] More Synonyms of hanky-panky.

What’s the definition of a hunky dory?

: quite satisfactory : fine.

What does it mean to rake over the coals?

Rake over the coals has a different meaning to haul over the coals. It means to bring up an incident from the past that is best left forgotten. It is usually used in the negative as in ‘Don’t rake over the coals.’ or Don’t rake over old coals.’ – Angela White October 3, 2019

What does the term haul over the coals mean?

haul/rake over the coals, to To administer a severe reprimand. The term alludes to the medieval practice of pulling an alleged heretic over the coals of a slow fire, which is described in numerous sixteenth-century church chronicles.

Why did Jenny get raked over the coals?

Jenny was raked over the coals for violating the traffic rules. It is not fair that Mathew gets raked over the coals every time something goes wrong in the school. The terrorists should be raked over the coals as hard as they could be for killing innocent people.

What does being raked over the coals mean? Reprimand severely Reprimand severely, as in When Dad finds out about the damage to the car, he’s sure to rake Peter over the coals, or The coach hauled him over the coals for missing practice. These terms allude to the medieval torture of pulling a heretic over…