lambaste
verbUK, US /læmˈbeɪst/
Etymology First attested in 1637. Probably lam (“beat”) + baste (“beat”)
1
To scold, reprimand or criticize harshly.
- The sergeant lambasted the new recruits daily.
- Her first novel was well and truly lambasted by the critics.
3 more examples
- It braces the talk not only of pundits, but of all the major Republican candidates - from the tough guy at one end, Rudy Giuliani, who lambastes Democrats for not using the word or its equivalent, to the "nice" candidate at the other end, Mike Huckabee, who defines Islamofascism as "the greatest threat this country [has] ever faced."2008 January 21, James Carroll, “Carroll: Islamofascism's ill political wind”, in The New York Times:
- Indeed, part of the problem was that Armstrong was rowing back on so much previous behaviour and years of aggressive lambasting of reporters, officials and team-mates who had claimed he was doping. "I don't forgive Lance Armstrong, who lied to me in two interviews. And I suspect most of America won't, either," Kurtz wrote.2013 January 19, Paul Harris, “Lance Armstrong faces multi-million dollar legal challenges after confession”, in The Guardian:
- Labour frontbencher Louise Haigh (Shadow Transport Secretary for heaven's sake!) initially lambasted TOCs before the handful of specialist rail commentators fell on her tweets and she changed her tune, refocusing her fire on Government.2023 August 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Disinterested and dishonest”, in RAIL, number 989, page 3:
2
Dated To give a thrashing to; to beat severely.
In UK English but not US English
- Derived terms
- lambaster