tarred and feathered
past tense of tar-and-feather
/tɑrd ænd ˈfɛðərd/
adjective
- Covered with tar and feathers as a form of public punishment or humiliation.
- In the old West, a captured outlaw might end up tarred-and-feathered.
- The tarred-and-feathered man was paraded through the town square.
- The tarred-and-feathered victim was left tied to a post for all to see.
- Figuratively, subjected to severe public criticism or disgrace.
- He was tarred-and-feathered by online commenters after his controversial remarks.
- After the scandal, the politician felt tarred-and-feathered by the media.
- The company was tarred-and-feathered in the press for its unethical practices.
Synonyms