thrash, thresh

thrash, thresh
These words have a shared meaning of flailing, especially of beating grains and cereals in order to remove the seeds or grain from their straw. That is, a farmer can thrash or thresh wheat. Commonly, thrash is used to mean "to whip," "to flog": "The headmaster thrashed the student soundly." Thresh is also used to mean "to discuss thoroughly," "to examine carefully": "We spent hours trying to thresh out the problem."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • thresh — [thresh] vt. [ME threschen: earlier form of THRASH] 1. to beat out (grain) from its husk, as with a flail 2. to beat grain out of (husks) 3. to beat or strike as with a flail vi. 1. to thresh grain 2. to toss about; thrash …   English World dictionary

  • Thresh — Thrash Thrash, Thresh Thresh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Thrashed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Thrashing}.] [OE. [thorn]reschen, [thorn]reshen, to beat, AS. [thorn]erscan, [thorn]rescan; akin to D. dorschen, OD. derschen, G. dreschen, OHG. dreskan, Icel.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thrash — Thrash, Thresh Thresh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Thrashed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Thrashing}.] [OE. [thorn]reschen, [thorn]reshen, to beat, AS. [thorn]erscan, [thorn]rescan; akin to D. dorschen, OD. derschen, G. dreschen, OHG. dreskan, Icel. [thorn]reskja …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thresh — Thrash Thrash, Thresh Thresh, v. t. 1. To practice thrashing grain or the like; to perform the business of beating grain from straw; as, a man who thrashes well. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, to labor; to toil; also, to move violently. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thrash — Thrash, Thresh Thresh, v. t. 1. To practice thrashing grain or the like; to perform the business of beating grain from straw; as, a man who thrashes well. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, to labor; to toil; also, to move violently. [1913 Webster] I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thresh — thrash, thresh These words were once variants of the same word, but now have different spellings and pronunciations. To thrash is to beat (physically and metaphorically as in thrashing one s opponents), whereas to thresh is to separate grain …   Modern English usage

  • thrash — thrash, thresh These words were once variants of the same word, but now have different spellings and pronunciations. To thrash is to beat (physically and metaphorically as in thrashing one s opponents), whereas to thresh is to separate grain …   Modern English usage

  • thresh — v. 1 tr. beat out or separate grain from (corn etc.). 2 intr. = THRASH v. 4. 3 tr. (foll. by over) analyse (a problem etc.) in search of a solution. Phrases and idioms: threshing floor a hard level floor for threshing esp. with flails. threshing… …   Useful english dictionary

  • thresh — See thrash, thresh …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • thrash — See thrash, thresh …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

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