flay
flay [ fley ] | |
[ transitive verb ] | |
MEANING : | |
1. to whip or lash 2. to take the skin off in strips 3. to fleece or strip of money or goods 4. to scold or criticize with scathing severity | |
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : | |
In the old days punishment was so severe that people who stole food were flayed in public. | |
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : | |
This populism ignores the fact that few householders, however protective of their possessions, want a license to flay, torture, spit-roast or feed to the cats any malefactor with designs on their flat-screen televisions. |