English Dictionary

Definition of “flog

flog (flɒɡPronunciation for flog

Definitions

verb

Word forms: flogs, flogging, flogged
  1. (tr) to beat harshly, esp with a whip, strap, etc
  2. (tr) British slang to sell
  3. (intr) (of a sail) to flap noisily in the wind
  4. (intr) to make progress by painful work
  5. New Zealand to steal
  6. See flog a dead horse
  7. See flog to death

Alternative Forms

ˈflogger noun ˈflogging noun

Word Origin

C17: probably from Latin flagellāre; see flagellant

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= sell, market, trade, dispose of, put up for sale
= beat, whip, lash, thrash, whack, scourge, hit hard trounce, castigate, chastise, flay, lambast(e) flagellate, punish severely beat or knock seven bells out of

Usage examples

  • I worked hard to flog the conversation along, and it was hard work, because I was feeling dull and heavy.
    O'Brian, Patrick, Testimonies (1994)
  • But the two cars have become jaded and soon it could get tough for Maruti to continue to flog them.
    Business Today (2001)
  • Now trustee Stirling Horne is scratching his head trying to work out who he can flog the remaining pachyderms to.
    The Australian (2005)
  • MADONNA has made her West End stage debut in London playing an art dealer who'll do anything to flog a Jackson Pollock.
    Sun, News of the World (2002)
  • { Chapter Four } They'll flog the mischief out of you When you get to Botany Bay!
    Townsend, Eileen, Dreamtime (1993)

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