lambast
10 years ago No Comments

(pronounced lam-BAST or lam-BAYST)

Though our minds conjure up images of preparing mutton when we see this word – which can also appear in print as “lambaste” – the term has nothing to do with cooking, nor anything to do with sweet little sheep. In fact, its meaning is far from sweet. Lambast / lambaste is a verb meaning to attack aggressively – either verbally or physically, like whipping or beating.

Example: When Jeff, the project architect on the 10 million dollar educational facility, found out that the contractor over-inflated the pricing on the simple, yet necessary, change order, he completely lost his temper and lambasted both the supervisor and head foreman in front of everyone at the weekly project meeting.