rake over the coals

短语

发音

AU

词形变化

raked over the coals rakes over the coals 三单 rakes over the coals raking over the coals raking over the coals 现在分词 raked over the coals 过去式 raked over the coals 过去分词

释义与例句

v.
  1. 1.

    To call to task or to reprimand severely.

    习语

    She raked him over the coals for lying to her.

词源

The earliest example given is from 1565: "S. Augustine, that knewe best how to fetche an heretike ouer the coles." (OED). From the practice of dragging or raking heretics over coals performed by the Catholic Church as a form of torture.

来源：wiktionary