rake over the coals
To call to task or to reprimand severely.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The boss raked him over the coals for being late.”
“After the project failed, the manager raked the entire team over the coals during the meeting.”
“The committee raked the director over the coals for his poor financial decisions, demanding a full explanation for the missing funds.”
first recorded 16th c.
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.
- 01
canary in a coal mine
Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the coming of a greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare.
- 02
carry coals to Newcastle
To do something that is unneeded or redundant.
- 03
coals to Newcastle
A pointless venture, in the sense of sending something to a place where it is made, or where they already have an abundance.
- 04
haul someone over the coals
To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
- 05
rake over
To discuss something unpleasant from the past.
- 06
rake together
To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, with some difficulty
- 07
step on a rake
To fall victim to an avoidable (usually self-caused) hazard or error.
Last updated August 10, 2026