The idiom "haul over the coals" means to criticize or scold someone severely for something they have done wrong. It is often used when someone has made a mistake or done something that is considered unacceptable or inappropriate.
For example, if a student plagiarizes a paper, the teacher might "haul them over the coals" by giving them a failing grade and a stern lecture about academic honesty. Or if an employee makes a serious error at work, their boss might "haul them over the coals" by reprimanding them and possibly even threatening to fire them.
The phrase "haul over the coals" comes from the practice of punishing someone by placing them on hot coals, which was a common form of punishment in the past. While this is no longer a common practice, the idiom has survived and is still used today to describe a severe scolding or punishment.
In summary, "haul over the coals" means to criticize or scold someone severely for something they have done wrong, and it is used in situations where someone has made a serious mistake or committed an offense.
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