There is a verb “to drub” (apalear), which means to beat with a stick. However, the word has figurative meanings.
It can mean “defeat” (derrotar).
Contemplate these:
- Mr. Sanchez deserves a drubbing (…se lo merece una paliza…) in the next general election. This means that he does not deserve to win the election, and may be defeated by a wide margin.
Another similar word is “thrashing” (palizón). So PSOE could receive a thrashing at the polls. This again means a defeat. - Sometimes politicians “get a drubbing” (… reciben una paliza…) by the press.
- Various governments in Europe will suffer a drubbing (…sufrirán una paliza…) in the next elections.
