Lash on or lash at

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Tina3

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Yesterday it was raining.

Rain lashed at my windows.
Rain lashed on my windows.

What is the correct preposition?
I think both are correct.
 

emsr2d2

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Of those two, only "lashed" is correct.
 
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Raymott

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"Lashed at" is also correct, but not "lashed on".
 

emsr2d2

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And, perhaps even more naturally, "lashed against​".
 

Tina3

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You have a table.

You can hit hard on your table.

So rain lashes on the window should be correct.

My question is what is wrong with 'lash on' in this context.
 

Rover_KE

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Neither 'hit hard on your table' nor 'rain lashes on the window' sound natural in English.
 

Boris Tatarenko

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You have a table.

You can hit hard on your table.

So rain lashes on the window should be correct.

My question is what is wrong with 'lash on' in this context.

Delete "on" and your sentences will be correct. Who told you that "you can hit hard on the table"?
 

GoesStation

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You can hit the table hard. You can't hit hard the table except in poetic language.
 

Tina3

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Thanks for all the interesting replies.

I don't know these things.

If I want I can hit on one of my windows carefully.

If I hit hard on one of my windows, the glass will be damaged. So I have to hit it lightly.

Can't I say I can hit on one of my window panes?
 

Rover_KE

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None of the above work in English.

The meanings of the phrasal verb 'hit on' in our reference section are:

- Have an idea
- Talk to someone to try to attract them sexually
- Ask for money


 

Tina3

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Thanks everybody

1 Rain lashed at my windows.

2 Rain lashed against my windows.

I assume our native English speakers approve both of the above.

I have another questions.

Rain is lashing.
Is the above correct?

Lash is both transitive and intransitive.
How do I distinguish the difference between the two?
Generally, some verbs are both transitive and intransitive.
I can't distinguish the difference between the two.
 

Tina3

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So the adjective lashing does not exist.
I am surprised.
 

Rover_KE

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How did you arrive at that conclusion? Here's 'lashing' used as an adjective:

'We were soon drenched by the lashing rain.'
 

Tarheel

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Thanks for all the interesting replies.

I DIDN'T know THOSE things.

If I want I can hit on one of my windows carefully.

If I hit hard on one of my windows, the glass will be damaged. So I have to hit it lightly.

Can't I say I can hit on one of my window panes?

You can tap on a window pane.
 

Tdol

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How did you arrive at that conclusion? Here's 'lashing' used as an adjective:

'We were soon drenched by the lashing rain.'


I agree- the lashing rain works for me, but the rain is lashing doesn't.
 

Tina3

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Sometimes there are downpours.

In this context, is the following correct?

Rain lashes.
 

Tdol

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It doesn't work as a sentence for me.
 
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