lickings
Thorough losses sustained
Lickings is the plural of licking, which means a beating or thrashing: He took several lickings but kept coming back.
A licking can also be a decisive defeat: Our team got a real licking last night.
The phrase take a licking and keep on ticking suggests resilience through repeated punishment.
Decisive, lopsided defeat
- wallopingPowerful blow or defeat
- pummelingSustained striking attack
- drubbingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- clobberingDefeating or striking decisively
trouncing · whipping · flogging · pasting · battering · thumping · smacking · hammering
Striking the buttocks
- caningStriking with a rod
- paddlingStroking water with blades
- strappingMuscular and hale
- birchingStriking with bundled twigs
switching · flogging · whipping · thrashing · tanning · discipline · chastisement · corporal
Express sharp disapproval
- reproofExpression of blame
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- upbraidingCriticizing someone sharply
berating · dressing-down · telling-off · tongue-lashing · earful · lecture · castigation · criticism
thrashing
Decisive, lopsided defeat
clobbering · trouncing · whipping · flogging · pasting · battering · thumping · smacking · hammering · mauling
spanking
Striking the buttocks
birching · switching · flogging · whipping · thrashing · tanning · discipline · chastisement · corporal · flagellation
rebuke
Express sharp disapproval
- reproofExpression of blame
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
upbraiding · berating · dressing-down · telling-off · tongue-lashing · earful · lecture · castigation · criticism · censure
- thrashingsbeatings, drubbings, thrashings, whippings, floggings
- take a lickingEndure harsh treatment
- licking one's lipsTongue moistening mouth edges
- licking lips
- licking cleanRemoving all residue orally
- lip lickingTongue across mouth edge
- licking into shapeImproving through persistent work