In English vocabulary, select the antonym (word opposite in meaning) of the verb to flay, which can mean to strip the skin off or to criticize someone very harshly.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of antonyms in English vocabulary. The verb to flay has strong meanings both in a literal sense and a figurative sense. Literally, it means to strip the skin off something. Figuratively, it means to criticise someone very severely. In many exams, you are expected to know not only the meaning of such intense verbs but also their opposite or contrasting actions. The correct antonym here will express covering or protecting rather than stripping or exposing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: to flay.
• Options: to scalp, to peel, to excoriate, to sheath.
• Flay means to strip off the skin or to criticise harshly.
• We must pick the option that is opposite in idea to stripping or harsh attack.

Concept / Approach:
When searching for an antonym, first be clear about the core meaning of the word. Flay in its basic meaning involves removing covering, especially skin. In extended usage, it suggests harsh verbal attack. Therefore we look for a word that suggests covering, protecting or enclosing rather than removing. Scalp, peel and excoriate all suggest forms of removing skin or outer layers, and excoriate also means to criticise severely. Sheath, on the other hand, means to cover or put into a protective case, as in sheathing a sword. Thus, to sheath is a direct opposite to flaying in the sense of stripping away.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that to flay means to strip the skin off or to criticise harshly. Step 2: Check to scalp. This means to remove the scalp, that is, skin from the head, which is similar to flay, not opposite. Step 3: Check to peel. This also means to remove an outer covering, again similar in idea. Step 4: Check to excoriate. This verb means to strip or damage the skin and figuratively to criticise very severely, another synonym. Step 5: Check to sheath. This means to put something, such as a knife or sword, into a sheath, that is, to cover or encase it.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you think in images, flaying leaves something exposed, raw and unprotected, whereas sheathing covers it carefully. This makes a clear conceptual contrast. Furthermore, dictionary entries for excoriate and flay show overlapping meanings. In contrast, sheath is often the protective container for a weapon. When you sheath a sword, you do the opposite of drawing it out to slash or flay. Therefore, to sheath is a natural antonym choice. No other option here stands in clear opposition to the idea of stripping away skin or surface.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• to scalp: This describes removing the scalp from the head. It is another form of cutting or stripping skin, so it is similar in sense to flay.
• to peel: This means to remove outer skin or covering from fruit, vegetables or other objects. It reinforces the same basic idea of stripping, not the opposite.
• to excoriate: This verb is very close in meaning, both for physical skin damage and for severe criticism, making it a synonym rather than an antonym.

Common Pitfalls:
Because most options have a painful or violent tone, many students may think the exam is asking for a synonym rather than an antonym and accidentally choose a similar word. Another pitfall is to focus on the emotional intensity rather than the basic action. Always read the question carefully. When it says select the antonym, search for opposite actions such as cover versus strip, protect versus expose. This habit helps avoid confusion in vocabulary questions where options are tightly related.

Final Answer:
The correct antonym of to flay is to sheath, because sheathing covers or encloses, which is opposite to stripping off and exposing.