be raking over the coals

be raking over the coals

To be dwelling on something unpleasant. Primarily heard in UK. Yeah, you made a mistake, but it's one we can easily fix, so stop raking over the coals.
See also: coal, over, rake
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be raking over the coals

or

be raking over the ashes

mainly BRITISH
If someone is raking over the coals or is raking over the ashes, they are talking about something that happened in the past which you think should now be forgotten. Yes, we made mistakes in the past, but let us not waste time raking over the coals when there is hard work to be done. Why must we keep raking over the ashes, causing distress to so many people?
See also: coal, over, rake
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • coal
  • rake
  • rake on (one)
  • rake on someone
  • let (something) lie
  • let something lie
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • be not above (doing something)
  • (with) all mod cons