hanged, drawn and quartered

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

hanged, drawn and quartered (not comparable)

  1. Subjected to the death sentence previously passed on those guilty of high treason.
  2. Brutally attacked, subjected to an attempt to destroy utterly.
    hanged, drawn and quartered by the press

References

  • Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 17th edition (2005), edited John Ayto (Widenfeld & Nicolson, →ISBN
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