0%

haul over the coals

coal
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kohl]
    • /hɔl ˈoʊ vər stressed ði koʊl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kohl]
    • /hɔl ˈoʊ vər stressed ði koʊl/

Definitions of haul over the coals words

  • noun haul over the coals a black or dark-brown combustible mineral substance consisting of carbonized vegetable matter, used as a fuel. Compare anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite. 1
  • noun haul over the coals a piece of glowing, charred, or burned wood or other combustible substance. 1
  • noun haul over the coals charcoal (def 1). 1
  • verb with object haul over the coals to burn to coal or charcoal. 1
  • verb with object haul over the coals to provide with coal. 1
  • verb without object haul over the coals to take in coal for fuel. 1
See all 9 definitions of haul over the coals

Information block about the term

Origin of haul over the coals

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English cole, Old English col; cognate with Dutch kool, German Kohle, Old Norse kol

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Haul over the coals

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Haul over the coals

haul over the coals popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

haul over the coals usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for haul over the coals

verb haul over the coals

  • reprimand — a severe reproof or rebuke, especially a formal one by a person in authority.
  • dress-down — pertaining to or being a policy that allows employees to dress less formally than usual: dress-down days during the summer.
  • give a piece of one's mind — (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind.
All 3 Synonyms of haul over the coals

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?