trip to the woodshed

English - English

Definition of trip to the woodshed in English English dictionary

An occasion on which a reprimand or punishment is administered

More than a few of the 3,000 members of the National Association of Manufacturers, gathered for their annual convention in Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel last week, felt like small boys worrying about a trip to the woodshed. None knew how vindictive or friendly toward business the Truman Administration would be.

Hyphenation

trip to the wood·shed

Turkish pronunciation

trîp tı dhi wûdşed

Pronunciation

/ˈtrəp tə ᴛʜē ˈwo͝odˌsʜed/ /ˈtrɪp tə ðiː ˈwʊdˌʃɛd/

Etymology

() Probably from the practice of taking a naughty child out of the house, to an outlying structure, for a private spanking.