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punishment
The word can be used as both a countable noun (referring to a specific penalty, like "a death punishment") and an uncountable noun (referring to the general concept of discipline). When used to describe rough treatment of objects, it is almost always uncountable. For example, you would say "the car took a lot of punishment," not "a lot of punishments." In formal legal contexts, it is often replaced by more specific terms like "sentence" or "sanction."
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Sarah is hiding in the breakroom while Jessica is at her desk.
Jessica
David wants you to redo the entire brand guide by tomorrow. He's totally out for blood.
Sarah
Great. This is just a straight up punishment for taking a long lunch.
💡
Sarah uses 'punishment' to describe an unfair workload imposed as retribution. The idiom 'out for blood' is used by Jessica to indicate David is in a vengeful or aggressive mood.