lash out

British  

verb

1. to burst into or resort to verbal or physical attack

2. informal to be extravagant, as in spending

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lash out Idioms  

1. Make a sudden blow or fierce verbal attack. For example, The mule lashed out with its hind legs, or After listening to Dad's criticism of his driving, Arthur lashed out at him. [Second half of 1500s]

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Example Sentences

And this has made her really relatable, having her son lash out at her like this so publicly.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

"I think for me, I know myself, and I don't want to lash out on my team. They're good people. They don't deserve that, and I know I'm emotional," said the 21-year-old.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

But somehow, many of us cannot get over regret, resentment, or anger, and we lash out, causing harm to those who least deserve it.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2025

Furious customers have even turned to Yelp, typically where you go to gripe about a soggy taco or brusque waiter, to lash out at the airline, which currently sits at 1.4 stars out of 5.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2024

King may have embraced direct action, but in the early 1960s he was still very much the product of his black middle-class upbringing, and he would occasionally lash out against stereotyped lower-class behaviors.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• flash
• roar
• yell