flay

[fley]

verb (used with object)

1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of.

2. to criticize or scold with scathing severity.

   Synonyms: upbraid, excoriate, castigate

3. to deprive or strip of money or property.

flay

/ fleɪ /

verb

1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin

2. to attack with savage criticism

3. to strip of money or goods, esp by cheating or extortion

Other Word Forms

• flayer noun
• unflayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flay¹

before 900; Middle English flen, Old English flēan; cognate with Middle Dutch vlaen, Old Norse flā

Word History and Origins

Origin of flay¹

Old English flēan ; related to Old Norse flā to peel, Lithuanian plešti to tear

Example Sentences

He drove his first delivery for four before he set about flaying India's bowling to all corners of this ground in an epic partnership of 303 with Harry Brook.

From BBC

From then on, he curbed his aggressive instincts to support Gill, but could not resist one straight flay off Bashir for six.

From BBC

Its common name is weeping fig, and in these flayed skins the lamentation resonates.

From Los Angeles Times

Having opted to continue its lawsuit against two activist investor groups even after they withdrew a shareholder proposal the company management opposed, the giant oil company had gotten flayed by shareholder advocates for its bullying.

From Los Angeles Times

The pundits who are flaying the White House for making the connection are merely buying a GOP talking point.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does flay mean?

To flay is to strip off the skin or outer covering of something. Flay is most commonly used metaphorically to refer to severely criticizing someone. It can also mean to cheat or deprive someone of money or property.The original, literal meaning of flay typically referred to removing the skin of an animal. Flay can also refer to removing the skin of a human, especially as a form of torture by whipping. Neither of its literal senses are commonly used anymore, except perhaps in fiction.Example: People on social media love to flay celebrities who are caught doing the opposite of what they always tell other people to do.