lash
B2Neutral to formal for punitive/storm contexts; neutral for binding context; everyday for 'eyelash'.
Definition
Meaning
To strike or beat with a whip or flexible object; also, the flexible part of a whip.
1. To strike violently or suddenly; to attack verbally. 2. To bind or fasten tightly with a rope or cord. 3. (Eyelash) A short hair growing on the edge of an eyelid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb can be both transitive (lash the horse, lash the cargo) and intransitive (waves lashed against the rocks). The noun has distinct senses: whip-stroke, eyelash, or a binding cord.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Lash out' (verbally/physically attack) is common in both. 'Lashing' as a noun for heavy rain is slightly more common in UK weather reports.
Connotations
Similar in both. Punitive/storm 'lash' is forceful; 'binding' lash is practical/technical.
Frequency
Similar core frequency. 'Lashings' meaning 'lots of' (lashings of cream) is chiefly British informal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] lashes [sth]/[sb] (with [sth])[sth] lashes (against/at [sth])[sb] lashes out (at [sb])[sb] lashes [sth] down/to [sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lash out (at)”
- “under the lash (of)”
- “a lash of (sarcasm/wit)”
- “lashings and leavings (UK, archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The CEO lashed out at the new regulations.'
Academic
In historical/sociological texts describing punishment ('judicial lashing'). Literary analysis for metaphorical violence ('the lash of his criticism').
Everyday
Most common for weather ('rain lashed the windows'), 'eyelash', and verbal attacks ('she lashed out').
Technical
Maritime/rigging contexts ('lash the cargo to the deck'), safety procedures.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gale is forecast to lash the coasts tonight.
- He used rope to lash the timber to the roof rack.
- She lashed out at the journalist's intrusive question.
American English
- The critic lashed the film in his review.
- Make sure you lash that canoe down tightly.
- Frustrated, he lashed out at his teammate.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Lashingly' is non-standard/rare.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as pure adjective. Participial 'lashing' used) The lashing rain forced cancellation.
- They bought a new lash curler.
American English
- (Rare as pure adjective) The lashing winds caused damage.
- She applied lash extensions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her eyelashes are very long.
- The wind and rain lashed the house.
- He used a strap to lash the boxes together.
- The politician lashed out at the media during the press conference.
- The captain ordered the crew to lash down all loose equipment before the storm.
- Her report contained a fierce lash against the company's environmental policy.
- Feeling cornered, the defendant lashed out vitriolically at the prosecutor.
- The cargo was expertly lashed to the pallet with tensioned webbing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WHIP making a 'LASH' sound as it cuts through the air. The word sounds like the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM/ATTACK IS A PHYSICAL BLOW ('the lash of his tongue'); NATURAL FORCE IS A PUNISHER ('the lashing rain'); RESTRAINT IS BINDING ('lashed by red tape').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'лашадь' (horse).
- Do not confuse verb 'to lash' (бичевать, привязывать) with noun 'eyelash' (ресница). They are the same word in English but different in Russian.
- 'Lash out' is an idiom meaning to attack suddenly, not just to strike once.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lash' for a gentle tie (use 'tie').
- Incorrect preposition: 'lash on' instead of 'lash to/down'.
- Confusing 'lash' (stroke) with 'lash' (the cord itself).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'He felt the lash of her criticism,' what does 'lash' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its oldest sense involves whipping, it commonly means 'to fasten tightly' and is part of the neutral word 'eyelash'.
'Lash' implies a flexible instrument and a sweeping, cutting motion. 'Whip' is the most direct synonym. 'Beat' is more general and can involve any instrument or fists.
Yes, especially in its intransitive forms: 'Waves lashed against the hull,' or in the phrasal verb 'lash out'.
Yes, etymologically. It comes from the idea of an eyelid 'whipping' or striking, and the hair resembles the thin cord of a whip.