verb #Idioms #English #esl

draw and quarter {v. phr.}, {literary}

1. To execute someone in the barbaric medieval fashion of having him torn into four pieces by four horses tearing his body in four different directions.

The captured foreign marauders were drawn and quartered by the angry citizens of ancient Frankfurt.

1. To punish someone very severely.

"If you miss another homework assignment, John," the teacher said, "I'll have you drawn and quartered." Categories: literary verb