Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

haul someone over the coals

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.93 in modern English

Syllables
haul -some-one over the -coals
IPA
36
Scrabble Score
23
Letters
4
Syllables
13
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.

British usage

Example Sentences

Etymology

In reference to a punishment once meted out to heretics.

Usage

Inflected Forms

hauls someone over the coals (present, singular) hauling someone over the coals (participle, present) hauled someone over the coals (participle, past) hauled someone over the coals (past)

Synonyms

berate give someone a dressing down give someone a telling off pull someone over the coals rake over the coals read someone the riot act scold tear a strip off someone tear someone a new asshole tear someone a new one tell off tell someone off

Questions

What does haul someone over the coals mean?
To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
Where does haul someone over the coals come from?
In reference to a punishment once meted out to heretics.

How to pronounce haul someone over the coals

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “haul someone over the coals”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “haul someone over the coals”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “haul someone over the coals” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.