WordWeb Online

1. Beat with a cane
   - cane, flog, lambast
    
2. Censure severely or angrily
   "The deputy lambasted the Prime Minister"
   - call on the carpet [US], take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out [N. Amer], chew up [N. Amer], have words, lambast, ream [N. Amer]

Derived forms: lambastes, lambasted

Type of: beat, beat up, criticise [Brit], criticize, damn, knock, pick apart, work over