The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny. a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders
Recent Examples on the WebWhile politicians flog the high prices of some new treatments such as gene and cancer immunotherapies, competition from generics is driving down prices for older drugs that more patients use. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 14 July 2022 The idea is not to flog yourself for mistakes but to acknowledge them with future improvements in mind.New York Times, 28 Dec. 2021 Not to mention that the reconciliation process frequently results in the theatrics of the minority party using the Byrd rule to publicly flog the majority party’s policies. Marie Sapirie, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2021 Is there any real difference between such magical thinking and the superstitions that led medieval peasants to flog themselves? Niall Ferguson Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 31 July 2021 Republicans used Lordstown to flog a Rust Belt revival. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 14 June 2021 Selling vehicles directly forges a bond with buyers that may help flog services in the future.The Economist, 11 Apr. 2021 Garuda is not the only Asian airline to flog its food to the land-lubbing public.The Economist, 29 Aug. 2020 And right on time the opponents of fossil fuels are flogging a sloppy study that ties pollutants to coronavirus deaths. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 4 May 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
perhaps modification of Latin flagellare to whip — more at flagellate