flay

[fleɪ]

flay Definition

• 1. to remove the skin from a person or animal's body
• 2. to criticize someone severely

Using flay: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "flay" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The hunter flayed the deer to prepare it for cooking.

• Example

  The coach flayed the team for their poor performance in the game.

• Example

  He was flayed alive by his critics for his controversial statement.

flay Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for flay

• skin
• peel
• criticize
• condemn
• strip

Antonyms for flay

• praise
• compliment

Phrases with flay

• flay alive

  to criticize or punish someone severely

  Example

  He was afraid that his boss would flay him alive for missing the deadline.

• flay open

  to expose something unpleasant or embarrassing

  Example

  The investigation flayed open the corruption within the company.

• flay to the bone

  to criticize someone harshly and without mercy

  Example

  The journalist flayed the politician's policies to the bone in her article.

Origins of flay

from Old English 'flean', meaning 'to skin or strip off'

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Summary: flay in Brief

'Flay' [fleɪ] is a verb that means to remove the skin from a person or animal's body, or to criticize someone severely. It can be used literally, as in 'The hunter flayed the deer to prepare it for cooking,' or figuratively, as in 'The coach flayed the team for their poor performance in the game.' The phrase 'flay alive' denotes severe criticism or punishment, while 'flay open' means to expose something unpleasant or embarrassing.