flog
C1Informal for the 'sell' sense; formal/informal for the 'beat' sense, though primarily associated with historical/punishment contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To beat someone severely with a whip or stick as punishment or torture.
To sell something, especially aggressively or energetically; to promote or publicize something relentlessly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The 'sell' meaning originated in mid-19th century British slang. The 'beat' meaning is the original but is now often used figuratively (e.g., 'flogging a dead horse').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb 'to flog' in the sense of 'to sell' is predominantly British/Australian slang. The 'beat' meaning is understood in both varieties but is less common in everyday American speech.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with corporal punishment historically; informal commercial slang. US: Primarily evokes physical beating, with little to no commercial slang usage.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English, especially in informal commercial contexts ('flogging cars'). In US English, it is a lower-frequency word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
flog + direct object (He was flogged.)flog + indirect object + direct object (He flogged me a copy.)flog + direct object + to + indirect object (He flogged a copy to me.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “flog a dead horse”
- “flog something to death”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'They're just flogging the same old product with a new name.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/sociological texts on punishment.
Everyday
Figurative: 'Stop flogging yourself over that mistake.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tried to flog his old bike on eBay.
- The sergeant would flog soldiers for minor offences.
American English
- The villain threatened to flog the captive.
- Historical accounts describe how they would flog convicts.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man had a whip to flog the horse.
- They used to flog people in the town square for stealing.
- He's been trying to flog that idea for years, but nobody's interested.
- Critics accused the company of flogging a dead horse with its outdated marketing strategy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FLOG sounds like 'FLOGue' - imagine someone beating a rug (carpet) to sell it aggressively.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELLING IS PUNISHMENT (aggressive selling is like beating the market/customer).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'flag' (флаг).
- The 'sell' meaning has no direct single-word equivalent; 'сбывать' or 'впаривать' captures the informal tone.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flog' in formal US business contexts for 'sell'.
- Confusing 'flog' (beat/sell) with 'blog'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these sentences uses 'flog' in its British informal sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently rude, but its informal commercial sense is casual slang, and its physical sense is graphic and violent.
Indirectly, in phrases like 'flogging yourself to death' meaning overworking. The primary meaning isn't 'work', but 'beat' or 'sell'.
'Flog' implies a sustained, severe beating, often as punishment. 'Whip' can be a single act and is also the instrument used. 'Flog' is more severe and formal/punitive in connotation.
Yes, but almost exclusively in the literal 'beat' sense. The British 'sell' sense is very rare and will likely be misunderstood in the US.