Rake over the coals

Meaning

The idiom "rake over the coals" means to subject something or someone to intense criticism, investigation, or scrutiny. It is often used when a person or thing is being closely examined or scrutinized for errors or wrongdoing.

Usage

• The auditor raked over the company's financial records for any irregularities.
• The journalist raked over the politician's past actions, looking for any evidence of corruption.
• When I found out my boss had been lying to me, I raked him over the coals.
• The student's teacher raked over her essay for any mistakes or typos.
• The manager raked over the employee's performance report, looking for areas of improvement.

Roots and History

The idiom "rake over the coals" dates back to at least the 17th century. It is believed to have originated from a process called "coaling," which involves piling coal on top of hot stones to create a fire. This process was used in various industries, including ironworking and metalworking. In these industries, it was common for workers to be closely monitored and scrutinized for errors or wrongdoing. The idiom "rake over the coals" likely emerged as a metaphor for this intense scrutiny. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent, but its usage has varied depending on context. For example, in some cases, the idiom may be used to describe a formal investigation or examination, while in others it may be used to describe an informal review or critique.

Synonyms in English

• Grill someone/something
• Scrutinize/examine
• Interrogate/question
• Probe/investigate
• Examine/inspect

Synonyms in other languages

• 盜攝 (Japanese) - To investigate or scrutinize someone or something closely
• 怠辦 (Portuguese) - To delay or procrastinate investigating or examining something
• 詐欺 (Arabic) - To deceive or mislead someone
• لاتثقن (Arabic) - To distrust or mistrust someone
• استلامة (Arabic) - To submit to investigation or scrutiny

Similar Idioms

• red zone

• go round in circles

• run for cover