rake over the coals
Criticize without mercy
To rake someone over the coals is to criticize or reprimand them harshly: The boss raked him over the coals for losing the client.
The image is of dragging someone across hot embers—painful and prolonged.
Also appears as *haul over the coals*, especially in British English.
- chideRebuke mildly
- berateCriticize severely and lengthily
- chew outReprimand severely
- scoldRebuke harshly
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
give an earful · lambaste · read the riot act · read someone the riot act · rebuke · take to task · dress down · call on the carpet · hot seat · reprimand · upbraid · lay into · scathe · criticize · excoriate · censure · admonish · reproach