the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures > severely (2)
transferred and figurative. To subject (persons, opinions, etc.) to heavy, crushing, or persistent attack.
transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To subject to violence; to beat up, attack. Also with up. Cf. mash, v.3