lash out — attack someone verbally (figurative)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to suddenly speak to someone in an angry or critical way, often because you are upset or under pressure.
Say it like a native
Textbook Under stress, he angrily criticised those around him.
Native Under pressure, he lashed out at everyone.
'Lash out (at)' naturally means snap angrily at people. 'Angrily criticised' is flat.
Pattern: lash out (at someone/something)
In use
- When the manager criticised her work, she suddenly lashed out at him in front of the whole team.communication
- Some people lash out at their colleagues when they feel overwhelmed at work, but this usually damages professional relationships.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She lashed out to her colleagues.
✓ She lashed out at her colleagues.
'Lash out AT someone', not 'to'.
Common collocations
lash out at— at critics, at the staff, in anger, verbally
Don't confuse it
At B1/B2, 'lash out' may be known as 'to attack physically' (e.g. hit or kick). This C1 sense is figurative: it means to attack with words, not actions.