1. the act or process of stripping skin or criticizing harshly
Usage: gerund noun form

1. present participle of flay; to strip the skin off an animal or person
Usage: often used literally in historical or brutal contexts
2. to criticize harshly or severely
Usage: figurative use; common in modern English

Examples

• The critic was flaying the actor's performance in her review.
• Medieval texts describe flaying as a form of punishment.
• The coach was flaying the team for their poor defensive play.
• Flaying the fish requires a sharp knife and steady hands.
• The newspaper was flaying the government's new policy.
• He received a flaying from the audience after his speech.