flay

/flei/

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Word: Flay

Definition: The verb "flay" means to strip the skin off something, often referring to an animal. It can also mean to criticize someone very harshly.

Usage Instructions:

• "Flay" is mainly used in a literal sense when talking about skinning animals or in a figurative sense when talking about harsh criticism.
• It is often used in more serious or dramatic contexts.

Example Sentences:

1. Literal Use: "The butcher had to flay the animal before preparing the meat."
2. Figurative Use: "The critic flayed the movie, saying it was the worst film of the year."

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or formal writing, "flay" can be used metaphorically to describe someone being verbally attacked or severely criticized. For example, "The politician was flayed by the media for his controversial comments."

Word Variants:

• Flayed (adjective): This is the past participle of "flay." For example, "The flayed carcass was ready for cooking."
• Flaying (noun): This refers to the act of stripping the skin off something. For example, "The flaying was done quickly and skillfully."

Different Meanings:

1. Literal Meaning: To physically remove the skin from an animal.
2. Figurative Meaning: To criticize someone or something severely.

Synonyms:

• For the literal meaning: skin, peel, excoriate.
• For the figurative meaning: criticize, roast, berate, lambaste.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no commonly used idioms or phrasal verbs specifically with "flay," but you might encounter phrases like "flayed alive" in a metaphorical sense, meaning someone has been harshly criticized.

Summary:

"Flay" is a powerful word that can describe both a physical action of removing skin and a strong verbal attack.

Academic

Verb

1. strip the skin off