flogged: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal to neutral; the literal meaning is formal in historical/legal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “flogged” mean?
Past tense and past participle of 'flog': to beat (someone) severely with a whip or stick as a punishment or to make them work harder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past tense and past participle of 'flog': to beat (someone) severely with a whip or stick as a punishment or to make them work harder.
To promote or sell something aggressively or persistently. To criticize someone or something harshly. To subject something to intense pressure or strain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the literal and extended meanings. The phrase 'flog a dead horse' is more common in British English. The commercial sense ('to sell') is strongly associated with British and Australian informal use.
Connotations
UK: Stronger association with selling, especially in 'flog it on eBay'. The literal meaning carries strong historical/brutal connotations. US: The literal meaning may be less familiar; 'to flog' can sound slightly archaic or literary.
Frequency
Higher overall frequency in UK English due to the common commercial idiom.
Grammar
How to Use “flogged” in a Sentence
[Subject] flogged [Object (person/animal)][Subject] flogged [Object (product/idea)] [Adverbial (to someone)][Subject] flogged [Object] [Adverbial (as punishment/for a crime)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flogged” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He flogged his old car for a grand.
- The sergeant was accused of flogging the recruits.
- You're just flogging a dead horse with that argument.
American English
- They flogged him brutally in the town square.
- The sales team flogged the new subscription model relentlessly.
- Critics flogged the director's latest film.
adverb
British English
- Not standard. Possibly 'floggingly' as a nonce word (e.g., 'he worked floggingly hard').
American English
- Not standard.
adjective
British English
- A flogged horse (colloquial).
- The flogged product line (informal).
American English
- The flogged prisoner (historical).
- A flogged storyline (metaphorical).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal: 'We've been flogging this new software to every client.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/legal studies: 'The convict was flogged for insubordination.'
Everyday
Common in informal UK speech for selling: 'I finally flogged my old guitar.' Also used metaphorically: 'The media flogged that story for weeks.'
Technical
Not typical.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flogged”
- *He was flogged by the robbers. (Incorrect unless they used whips; use 'beaten' or 'robbed').
- Using the literal sense in modern non-historical contexts can sound odd or extreme.
- Confusing 'flogged' (past tense) with 'flagged' (marked or declined).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The literal punishment sense is formal/historical. The commercial sense ('to sell aggressively') is informal, particularly in British English.
'Flogged' specifically implies beating with a whip, rod, or similar instrument, often as formal punishment. 'Beaten' is more general and can involve fists, sticks, etc.
Yes, informally. E.g., 'We need to flog these old stock units before the new model arrives.' It conveys a sense of forceful or persistent selling.
It means to waste effort on something that has already been decided, is hopeless, or will not produce any result. E.g., 'Arguing about it now is just flogging a dead horse.'
Past tense and past participle of 'flog': to beat (someone) severely with a whip or stick as a punishment or to make them work harder.
Flogged: in British English it is pronounced /flɒɡd/, and in American English it is pronounced /flɑːɡd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “flog a dead horse”
- “flog something to death”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FLOG (sounds like 'blog') being beaten with a stick for having bad content. Or, picture someone trying to FLOG (sell) a wet, heavy LOG.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSIVE SELLING IS PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT (e.g., 'flogging' a product). HARD WORK IS SELF-PUNISHMENT (e.g., 'flogging myself to finish').
Practice
Quiz
In modern British informal English, 'flogged' most commonly means: