Meaning & use
lashing out
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“lashing out” is a form of “lash out”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
Attacking someone suddenly, with words or physical force, usually from anger or frustration.
Grammar: Intransitive, usually followed by at or against: he was lashing out at his friends.
Patterns
- lashing out at someone
- lashing out against something
He was lashing out at everyone because he was so stressed.
The child was lashing out at his sister after losing the game.
Frightened animals may end up lashing out at anyone nearby.
phrasephrasal verb
Criticizing someone or something sharply in public, often in writing or a speech.
Grammar: Intransitive, with at or against: the mayor was lashing out at critics.
Patterns
- lashing out at someone
- lashing out at something
The coach was lashing out at the referees in the press conference.
Critics were lashing out against the new tax in their columns.
She was lashing out online at the company's poor service.
phrasephrasal verbBritishinformal
Spending a lot of money freely on something, often something unnecessary.
Grammar: Intransitive, with on: they were lashing out on a party.
Patterns
- lashing out on something
They are lashing out on a new kitchen this year.
He was lashing out on gifts for the whole family.
We are lashing out on a fancy dinner to celebrate.
Word forms
| base verb | lash out |
|---|---|
| third person singular | lashes out |
| past tense | lashed out |
Common combinations
- lashing out at critics
- The senator kept lashing out at critics.
- lashing out in anger
- He regretted lashing out in anger.
- lashing out verbally
- She was lashing out verbally at her teammates.
- lashing out against injustice
- Protesters were lashing out against injustice.
- stop lashing out
- The counselor taught him to stop lashing out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- striking out
- Striking out is a little more neutral and can mean physical attack, while lashing out suggests sudden anger.
- hitting out
- Hitting out is common in British English for sharp criticism, but lashing out also fits physical aggression.
- snapping
- Snapping means a sudden short angry remark, while lashing out suggests a longer and fiercer reaction.
- retaliating
- Retaliating means striking back in response, whereas lashing out may have no real target or reason.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: lashing out or lashing?
lashing out vs lashing
Lashing alone means whipping or tying with rope, while lashing out means attacking angrily or spending a lot.
Practice
The driver was fined for ______ at the traffic officer after being stopped.
Choose one answer.
Lashing out at someone means attacking them suddenly in anger. The other phrasal forms are not used to describe an angry attack.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lashing out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.