a shellacking meaning

• [American slang]
  1. Fig. a physical beating. (Typically: get ~; take ~; give someone ~.)
    The boxer took a shellacking and lost the fight.
    I got a shellacking when I broke the window.
  2. Fig. a beating—as in sports. (Typically: get ~; take ~; give someone ~.)
    Our team played well, but got a shellacking anyway.
    I practiced my tennis game so I wouldn't take a shellacking in the tournament.

• shellacking:     noun; [American s ...
• get a shellacking:    [American idiom]to ...
• give a shellacking:    [American idiom]to ...

Examples

1. i might have been willing to take a shellacking in this publicity spree of yours
2. .. . i might have been willing to take a shellacking in this publicity spree of yours
3. One month in, the Serbs have taken a shellacking.
4. They had been taking a shellacking on the budget fight with President Clinton.
5. And unions are taking a shellacking in many places.