a lash of scorpions
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: a scourge of scorpions
Meaning · English
A specially severe punishment, in allusion to the biblical passage: —
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a lash of scorpions” mean?
A specially severe punishment, in allusion to the biblical passage: —
Is “a lash of scorpions” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.