keelhauls
/ˈkiːlˌhɔlz/
verb
- To punish someone by dragging them under a ship's keel.
- In the old navy, they would keelhaul mutineers.
- Pirates would keelhaul their prisoners as a warning.
- The captain threatened to keelhaul any sailor who disobeyed.
- To scold or criticize someone harshly (figurative).
- The coach keelhauls the team after every loss.
- The critic keelhauls the movie in his review.
- My boss keelhauls me whenever I make a small mistake.