お灸きゅうを据すえる

expression, ichidan verb

rake over the coals; scold severely; chastise

Idiomatic expression for giving someone a stern scolding or dressing-down, often with a nuance of teaching them a lesson. The image comes from the painful practice of moxibustion.

See also: 灸を据える

• 遅ち刻こくしたら、部ぶ長ちょうにお灸きゅうを据すえられた。

  When I was late, the department head gave me a real dressing-down.

• あの子こは生なま意い気きだから、一いち度どお灸きゅうを据すえてやらないと。

  That kid is so cheeky; I need to give him a good scolding sometime.

expression, ichidan verb

burn moxa on the skin

Original literal meaning: to apply moxibustion by burning moxa on the skin. Now rare as a standalone phrase; the idiomatic sense is dominant.

See also: 灸を据える

• 昔むかしは、肩かたこりに効きくと言いって、よくお灸きゅうを据すえたものだ。

  In the old days, people often burned moxa on the skin, saying it was good for stiff shoulders.