打板子

打板子

Literally means:

spank somebody with wooden boards or bamboo clappers

Actually means:

A punishment in old times, during which the subject is spanked with wooden boards or bamboo clappers.

It is a figurative expression of criticizing. Sometimes it has the meaning of being criticized. When used in this sense, it is equivalent to 挨板子.

旧时的一种惩罚手段，用木板或竹片打受罚的人。

比喻批评、指责。有时可指受到批评、指责，这时相当于“挨板子”。