lash out

Meanings

1. To make a sudden violent attack.
2. To make a fierce verbal attack.
3. To splash out (spend a lot of money).

Etymology

For the verb's chief current sense (to attack suddenly), by surface analysis suggests reaching out with the lash (either literally or figuratively); however, the verb is entered in various early-19th-century dictionaries with various senses, only some of which have to do with attacking, kicking, or similar. One of them corresponds to today's splash out (that is, to break out into spending), while another corresponds to breaking out into expressing oneself verbally.