passer à tabac — meaning in English

English meaning

• flail noun An old farming tool with a short swinging stick attached to a handle, used to beat grain loose from its husks.
• thrash verb To beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively.

Senses

passer à tabac is used for these senses in English:

• beat to a pulp (transitive) To beat up (a person) more than usually severely.
• flail (transitive) To thresh.
• thrash To beat mercilessly.

flail — full definition

1. noun An old farming tool with a short swinging stick attached to a handle, used to beat grain loose from its husks.
2. noun A weapon with a heavy striking head joined to the handle by a chain or flexible link.
3. verb To wave or swing about wildly and without control.

thrash — full definition

1. verb To beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively.
2. verb To move about wildly and violently.
3. verb To subject a computer system to heavy, repeated demands for memory, causing it to slow down badly.

Related French words