Raked over the coals
Posted by R. Berg on June 19, 2001
In Reply to: Raked over the coals posted by Linda on June 19, 2001
: can someone tell me how old the phrase "raked over the coals" is? Getting desperate... thanks for any help
: Linda
The Oxford English Dict. has "'To haul, call (obsolete: fetch, bring) over the coals': to call to account and convict, to reprimand, call to task: originally in reference to the treatment of heretics." Earliest example given is from 1565: "S. Augustine, that knewe best how to fetche an heretike ouer the coles."
- Raked over the coals ESC 06/19/01
- Raked over the coals R. Berg 06/19/01