haul over the coals

== English == === Etymology === In reference to a punishment once meted out to heretics. === Pronunciation === === Verb === haul someone over the coals (third-person singular simple present hauls someone over the coals, present participle hauling someone over the coals, simple past and past participle hauled someone over the coals) (chiefly UK, idiomatic) To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong. ==== Synonyms ====