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00:40 Mar 4, 2005
English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Phrase origins
English term or phrase:to take someone "to the woodshed"
From today's news:
"...suggested that Bill Frist had been taken to the woodshed by the White House."
This refers to the news item regarding the US Senate Majority leader, who recently said that the Social Security reform legislation might not make it to Congress this year, and now he says that it definitely will.
Apparently, Mr. Frist's first remarks were not to the liking of the White House, so he was "brought to task", "chastised", "reprimmanded", "chewed out", etc., all of which seem to be equivalent to being "taken to the woodshed" in this context.
In 25 years of living in the US I don't recall ever hearing (or reading) the expression, and I am curious as to its origins, and literal meaning. I suspect the original meaning of being "taken to the woodshed" was rather more sinister than simply being admonished.
Please, the points don't matter. George got information on what he wanted to know and that's sufficient. This question is closed and done with, there are plenty of other KudoZ questions that people need help with.
Sorry. I meant to award the points to Renate, and I cliked on the wrong window by accident.
Renate's answer is the one who should have received the points.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +9
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