промывка мозгов

• ПРОМЫВАТЬ/ПРОМЫТЬ МОЗГИ кому coll

[VP, subj: human]

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1. [often 3rd pers pl with indef. refer.]

⇒ to indoctrinate s.o. forcibly with political, social, religious etc beliefs that differ from or are contrary to his own:

- X-y промывают мозги{{}}≈ X is being brainwashed,

○ ПРОМЫВКА МОЗГОВ [NP; sing only; fixed WO] ≈ brainwashing.

2. to scold s.o. severely:

- X промыл Y-y мозги{{}}≈ X raked (hauled) Y over the coals;

- X took Y to task;

- X called Y on the carpet.

     ♦ ...У Гангута как раз по приказу Комитета смыли фильм, на который потрачено было два года; как раз вызывали его на промывку мозгов в Союз, как раз не пустили на фестиваль в Канн... (Аксенов 7). Ganguts latest film, a two-year project, had just been rejected by the censors, he had just been hauled over the coals by the Film Makers' Union; he had just been refused permission to go to Cannes. (7a).