lash out
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (Phrasal Verb):
- To suddenly attack someone or something physically: To make a sudden, forceful physical strike.
- To suddenly criticize someone or something very angrily: To express strong anger, disapproval, or criticism in a sudden and forceful verbal manner.
Usage and Examples
Verb (Physical Attack):
- The cornered animal lashed out with its claws.
- He lashed out and hit the wall in frustration.
Verb (Verbal Attack/Criticism):
- The politician lashed out at the media during the press conference.
- She lashed out at her colleagues for their lack of support.
Advanced Usage
- The phrasal verb is often followed by the preposition "at" to specify the target of the attack or criticism.
- It implies a loss of control or a reaction that is sudden, emotional, and aggressive.
- "To lash out against [something]": To direct angry criticism towards a system, idea, or injustice.
- The protesters lashed out against government corruption.
Variants and Related Words
- Lash (verb): To strike with force; to criticize severely.
- The storm lashed the coastline.
- The report lashed the company's environmental record.
- Outburst (noun): A sudden release of strong emotion, often anger.
- His angry outburst shocked everyone.
Synonyms
- Attack: To act against in a violent or critical way.
- Blast: To criticize severely.
- Berate: To scold or criticize angrily.
- Strike out: To aim a sudden blow.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Strike out at: Similar to "lash out at," meaning to aim a blow or criticism at someone.
- In his speech, he struck out at his political rivals.
- Fly off the handle (idiom): To suddenly become very angry.
- He flew off the handle when he saw the mistake.
Related Idioms
- To bite someone's head off: To respond with sudden, fierce anger.
- I just asked a simple question, and she bit my head off.
Verb
- attack in speech or writing
- The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker