give somebody/get a pasting

get a pasting

1. To be soundly defeated or bested; to lose by a wide margin. Their team's inexperience showed on the pitch today, as they got a pasting from the powerful squad from New Zealand.
2. To be very strongly rebuked, criticized, condemned, or punished. The giant supermarket chain has gotten a pasting lately over allegations that they've been threatening local shops and markets. Mark sure got a pasting because of that prank he pulled in class yesterday.
See also: get, paste

give (one) a pasting

1. To strike or beat one very severely. The guy gave me a pasting after I insulted his girlfriend. I think he broke my jaw! The bullies always gave Tom a pasting during the school's lunch hour.
2. To soundly defeat or best one; to defeat one by a wide margin. Their team's inexperience showed on the pitch today, as the powerful squad from New Zealand really gave them a pasting.
See also: give, paste
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

give somebody/get a ˈpasting

(informal, especially British English)
1 beat somebody/be beaten very easily: Our team was given a real pasting on Saturday. We lost 6-0. The Democrats got a real pasting at the local elections.
2 criticize somebody/be criticized very severely: His new film got a pasting in the newspaper yesterday. She gave me a real pasting for handing in my essay a week late.
See also: get, give, paste, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • get a pasting
  • by a wide margin
  • stonkered
  • lose out to
  • lose out to (someone or something)
  • minus
  • plus or minus
  • plus-minus
  • (one) can't win
  • I, you, etc. can't win