be tarred and feathered

be tarred and feathered

1. Literally, to be coated with tar and bird feathers as a form of public punishment and shaming (one that is no longer carried out). The thief was tarred and feathered in the public square before being paraded through the town strapped to a wooden cart.
2. By extension, to be severely criticized, reprimanded, or excoriated, especially in a public and humiliating manner. After this economic collapse, everyone is demanding that the heads of the bank be tarred and feathered, but I'd be willing to bet that they'll just get a slap on the wrist.
See also: and, feathered, tar
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • feathered
  • tar and feather
  • tar and feather someone
  • make public
  • alert
  • alert the public
  • be public property
  • public eye
  • the common weal
  • the public weal
References in classic literature
As I told you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and now we will both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public market-place.
Yellow Fairy Book
"And I would risk my life rather than one of those good old royalists should be tarred and feathered."
Grandfathers Chair
CORRUPT Greek governments have deceived one and all Bringing about this tragic downfall Deceiving the euro and their own nation The government brought on this panic station The banks have no money and the public no pride The Greek revival will be a long hard ride Facing austerity for many more years Poor Greek folk tell you as they fight back the tears Pocket money for the kids does not now exist And is a long way down the survival list The Greek government have let the nation down They should be tarred and feathered and run out of town Sooner or later we hope all is resolved And with less austerity being involved.
POEM OF THE DAY; Deceived
Because he would not join his Rebel neighbours, Caldwell was brought before the local committee which sentenced him to be tarred and feathered. Two hundred "men in arms attended in order to see the sentence put into execution" on 15 June 1775.
Mother goose: loyalist style
'The chances are I could be tarred and feathered out there.
Actor Paul Newman caught clowning about in London
But the vast majority didn't take part in the shenanigans and shouldn't be tarred and feathered. It's time to wake up and start talking about creating a more competitive economy.
How bashing CEOs hurts the economy