lash out

Meaning

1. To make a sudden violent attack.
2. (figuratively) To make a fierce verbal attack.
3. (intransitive) To splash out (spend a lot of money)

Synonyms

kick out

hit out

assail

attack

👊

aggress

assault

strike out

lam out

invade

beset

raid

round

rush

scold

set on

snipe

strike

have at

swoop

come at

whang

beat

lace into

charge

hit

Translations

fustiger

attaquer violemment

legare

scagliarsi contro

sferrare calci e pugni a

ferito

ξεσπάω

επιτίθεμαι

attaquer

👊

invectiver

ruer

se débattre

aggredire

👊

assalire

👊

inveire

Etymology

For the verb's chief current sense (to attack suddenly), by surface analysis suggests reaching out with the lash (either literally or figuratively); however, the verb is entered in various early-19th-century dictionaries with various senses, only some of which have to do with attacking, kicking, or similar. One of them corresponds to today's splash out (that is, to break out into spending), while another corresponds to breaking out into expressing oneself verbally.