IdiomDaily LifeEnglish

haul someone over the coals

Meaning: To scold or reprimand someone severely for wrongdoing.

Example: “The chef hauled the new cook over the coals for burning the sauce twice.”

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: The phrase pictures someone being dragged across burning coals as punishment—a vivid image of painful consequences.

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More English idioms

  • make a fist of To accomplish something with reasonable competence or success.
  • tilt at windmills To waste effort fighting against imaginary enemies or pursuing hopeless causes.
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  • turn up the heat To make a situation more intense, uncomfortable, or urgent.
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Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

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