/ flɒg; NAmE flɑːg; flɔːg/ verb ( -gg- )
1.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to punish sb by hitting them many times with a whip or stick :
He was publicly flogged for breaking the country's alcohol laws.
2.
flog sth (to sb) | flog sth (off) ( BrE , informal ) to sell sth to sb :
[ vn ]
She flogged her guitar to another student.
We buy them cheaply and then flog them off at a profit.
[ vnn ]
I had a letter from a company trying to flog me insurance.
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IDIOMS
- flog a dead horse
- flog sth to death
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (originally slang): perhaps imitative, or from Latin flagellare to whip, from flagellum whip.