to take someone "to the woodshed"

English translation: see explanation

00:40 Mar 4, 2005

English language (monolingual) [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.

George Rabel KudoZ activity Questions: 505 (1 open) (14 closed without grading) Answers: 4403
Local time: 06:12

Selected answer:see explanation

Explanation:
It refers to being taken to the woodshed by your daddy for spanking.

These days it's used in a literal way of saying someone is being punished.

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Note added at 15 hrs 11 mins (2005-03-04 15:52:03 GMT)
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Laurel caught a blunder: of couse these days it\'s used in a figurative way, not a literal one.

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Note added at 17 hrs 38 mins (2005-03-04 18:19:33 GMT)
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My goodness, I\'m having a hard time typing today... of course, these days this expression is used in a figurative way, not a literal one.

Selected response from:

@caduceus (X)
United States
Local time: 04:12

Grading comment

Thank you, Renate, and all who contributed. Sorry for having graded erroneously before. It happens...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +9

see explanation

@caduceus (X)

to beat someone verbally, metaphorically or actually

juvera

5 -1

doing something not very legal, hidden

Lillian van den Broeck

3 +1

travisiswrong

Discussion entries: 6

Answers

20 mins confidence:

to take someone to beat someone verbally, metaphorically or actually

Explanation:
Or: put the wood on him, whip him.
References: www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/26/messages/856.html
www.sptimes.com/2003/01/28/Columns/Bucs_welcomed_victims.sh...

juvera
Local time: 11:12
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Hungarian

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

to take someone to the woodshed

see explanation

@caduceus (X)
United States
Local time: 04:12
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you, Renate, and all who contributed. Sorry for having graded erroneously before. It happens...

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Maria Chmelarova: ...and also with suggestion. I heard that today too.

5 mins

agree

Alp Berker

1 hr

agree

Yuri Geifman: I've seen this expression before

2 hrs

agree

Martine Brault

3 hrs

agree

Will Matter: Nancy is right, it was a crude but effective form of "reverse psychology", if you chose a thicker stick Dad might switch it to a thinner, more flexible one or vice versa, the point was that you learned NOT to do whatever it was that got you into trouble.

4 hrs

agree

NancyLynn: sometimes you had to choose your own switch and hand it to Daddy

4 hrs

agree

Laurel Porter (X): Yes - but these days it's used in a figurative way, not a literal one. Not necessarily punishment, but verbal chastisement.

6 hrs

-> yes, that's what I meant to say

agree

Lillian van den Broeck: Wow! finally it's clear! :-)

13 hrs

agree

Alfa Trans (X)

30 days

17 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

to take someone doing something not very legal, hidden

Explanation:
something behind closed doors,

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Note added at 1 day 15 hrs 20 mins (2005-03-05 16:01:09 GMT) Post-grading
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These points belong to Renate.

Lillian van den Broeck
Mexico
Local time: 04:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish

2287 days confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

50

Explanation:
It refers to Thomas Jefferson taking female slaves behind closed doors to make babies.

Example sentence(s):

Hey look, Thomas Jefferson is taking that girl out to the woodshed again.

travisiswrong

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