thrashing-floor
Definition
Noun: A thrashing-floor is a hard, flat surface or area, typically outdoors, where harvested grain is beaten or trodden to separate the edible seeds from the stalks and husks.
Usage Examples
- (The flat surface used for separating grain from stalks.)
- (Animals were used on the hard surface to thresh the crop.)
- (The specific area designated for this agricultural task.)
Advanced Usage
"to be on the thrashing-floor": to be in the process of being threshed.
- The barley is still on the thrashing-floor, waiting to be winnowed. (The grain is still being processed on the threshing surface.)
"a thrashing-floor of debate": a metaphorical use meaning a place or situation where ideas are vigorously argued or separated.
- The conference became a thrashing-floor of competing theories. (A venue where ideas were thoroughly examined and sorted.)
Variants and Related Words
Threshing-floor (n): an alternative spelling of thrashing-floor, meaning the same thing.
- They built a new threshing-floor near the barn. (A surface for threshing grain.)
Thresher (n): a person or machine that threshes grain.
- The thresher worked all day on the thrashing-floor. (The person or device performing the threshing.)
Synonyms
- Threshing floor: a direct synonym, the more common spelling.
- Barn floor: a general term for the floor of a barn, sometimes used for threshing.
- Winnowing floor: an area where threshed grain is cleaned by wind, often adjacent to the thrashing-floor.
Related Idioms
To separate the wheat from the chaff: to distinguish valuable from worthless parts, originally referring to the process on a thrashing-floor.
- The manager had to separate the wheat from the chaff during the job interviews. (To identify the best candidates, like threshing grain.)
To thresh out: to discuss or resolve something thoroughly.
- They met to thresh out the details of the contract. (To work out or settle, as if threshing grain on a floor.)