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Idiom: Rake Over The Coals

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rake over the coals 

Meanings

The earliest example given is from 1565: "S. Augustine, that knewe best how to fetche an heretike ouer the coles." (OED). From the practice of dragging or raking heretics over coals performed by the Catholic Church as a form of torture.

How to pronounce "rake over the coals":

AU

To call to task or to reprimand severely.

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