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to flay
01
to strip the skin or outer covering from a person, animal, or object, often as part of preparation or punishment
Transitive: to flay sb/sth
Examples
The hunter flayed the deer before curing the hide.
Ancient punishments sometimes involved flaying enemies alive.
02
to criticize someone severely, often in public
Transitive: to flay sb/sth
Examples
The critic flayed the play for its weak script and poor acting.
He was flayed in the press after the scandal broke.
