rake over the coals

rake over the coals
to talk about unpleasant things from the past that other people would prefer not to talk about.

There's no point in raking over the coals - all that happened twenty years ago, and there's nothing we can do about it now.

(usually in continuous tenses)

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rake\ over\ the\ coals — • haul over the coals • rake over the coals v. phr. To criticize sharply; rebuke; scold. The sergeant raked the soldier over the coals for being late for roll call. Syn.: dress down …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rake over the coals — phrasal : to censure severely : reprimand, scold was raked over the coals for his habitual lateness * * * rake (someone) over the coals see ↑coal • • • Main Entry: ↑rake …   Useful english dictionary

  • rake over the coals — See: HAUL OVER THE COALS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rake over the coals — See: HAUL OVER THE COALS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • haul/rake over the coals — haul/rake (someone) over the coals informal : to criticize (someone) very severely I arrived late for the meeting and was immediately hauled over the coals by my boss. • • • Main Entry: ↑coal …   Useful english dictionary

  • rake over old coals — ► rake over old coals (or rake over the ashes) chiefly Brit. revive the memory of a past event. Main Entry: ↑rake …   English terms dictionary

  • over the coals — See: HAUL OVER THE COALS or RAKE OVER THE COALS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • over the coals — See: HAUL OVER THE COALS or RAKE OVER THE COALS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • over\ the\ coals — See: haul over the coals or rake over the coals …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rake over the coals — verb To call to task or to reprimand severely …   Wiktionary

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