woodshed

Etymology

wood + shed

noun

  1. An enclosed, roofed structure, often an outbuilding, used primarily to store firewood.
  2. (informal) A place where punishments or reprimands are administered.
    The State Department is incensed, and if this conference fails it will be the woodshed for three Central American presidents. 11 Nov 1907, “Latin President’s Plot May Disarrange the Central American Peace Plans”, in New York Times
    Were you ever taken to the woodshed? Did anyone say, “Stop disagreeing with the president”? 2021-01-24, Donald G. McNeil Jr, “Fauci on What Working for Trump Was Really Like”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

verb

  1. (slang, music) To practice or rehearse using a musical instrument.
    His latest novel sheds light on an émigré writer’s woodshedding period. 23 Jul 2007, “A Free Life”, in Publishers Weekly

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