maul
C1Formal, journalistic, sporting commentary.
Definition
Meaning
To injure by tearing or crushing; to handle roughly or brutally.
To criticize or attack someone or something severely; to defeat decisively in a competition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb implies severe physical damage or a one-sided, brutal defeat. It often carries connotations of savage, uncontrolled force. As a noun, it refers to a heavy hammer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and verb forms are used in both varieties. The noun sense of 'a heavy hammer' is more common in technical/DIY contexts in the UK.
Connotations
Identical strong, violent connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media for reports of animal attacks (e.g., 'mauled by a dog').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: animal/person] maul [Object: person/animal][Subject: critic/team] maul [Object: person/work/opposition]be mauled to deathgive [someone] a maulingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take a mauling”
- “give someone a mauling”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The new policy was mauled by industry analysts.'
Academic
Rare, except in biological/zoological reports of animal behavior.
Everyday
Used for serious animal attacks or decisive sporting defeats.
Technical
Noun: A heavy, long-handled hammer used for splitting wood or driving stakes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He used a wooden maul to drive the tent pegs into the hard ground.
- The team's performance was a complete mauling.
American English
- Grab the maul from the shed; we need to split this firewood.
- The election result was a political mauling for the incumbent.
verb
British English
- The jogger was mauled by a stray dog in the park.
- The minister was mauled by the press over the spending scandal.
- The home side mauled their opponents 45-3.
American English
- A tourist was mauled by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone.
- The new play got mauled by the critics.
- Our team got mauled in the championship game.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lion can maul a zebra very quickly.
- They bought a heavy maul for the garden.
- The boxer was badly mauled in the first round of the fight.
- The government's proposal was mauled by opposition parties.
- Despite being mauled by critics, the controversial film found an audience.
- The forward pack used a rolling maul to advance down the pitch.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bear using its MAW (mouth) and PAW to MAUL a hiker.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM/COMPETITION IS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'mall' (торговый центр).
- The noun 'maul' (молот) is a false friend of Russian 'мол' (breakwater/pier).
- Avoid using for minor injuries; implies severe damage.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The cat mauled my hand. (Use 'scratched' for minor injuries)
- Incorrect: He mauled the box open. (Use 'prized' or 'forced')
Practice
Quiz
In a rugby context, what is a 'maul'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Maul' focuses on the attacking action causing severe injury, often by an animal. 'Mangle' emphasizes the result: crushing and twisting something out of shape, often mechanically.
Yes, it's commonly used metaphorically to mean 'criticize severely' or 'defeat utterly,' as in 'The report was mauled in the media.'
It is a specialized tool name (a heavy hammer). Its use is mostly confined to woodworking, forestry, or blacksmithing contexts.
Typically, yes. It suggests a brutal, uncontrolled, or savage attack, whether physical or metaphorical.