rake over the coals

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

rake over the coals (third-person singular simple present rakes over the coals, present participle raking over the coals, simple past and past participle raked over the coals)

1. (idiomatic) To call to task or to reprimand severely.

   She raked him over the coals for lying to her.

Synonyms

• haul someone over the coals

References

• Oxford English Dictionary
• Your Dictionary.com
• “rake over the coals”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.