Meaning of "get savaged"

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/advan-39 "State Secrets", question 5

Sometimes a journalist will get hold of sensitive information knowing that he will get ......... by government agencies if he dares reveal it.

(a) wild
(b) torn
(c) savaged
(d) ravaged

Test No. incompl/advan-39 "State Secrets", answer 5

Sometimes a journalist will get hold of sensitive information knowing that he will get savaged by government agencies if he dares reveal it.

Correct answer: (c) savaged

Your answer was: incorrect
Sometimes a journalist will get hold of sensitive information knowing that he will get ravaged by government agencies if he dares reveal it.
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What does "get savaged" mean?

[Alan]

This word in its literal sense usually means attacked and injured by an animal such as a lion or tiger. In its figurative sense, which is how I have used it in this sentence, it means personally attacked with critical comment.
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English as a Second Language
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[Vitaly.]

Why "get torn" is not appropriate?

[Alan]

Hi Vitaly,

Get torn isn't usually used in a metaphorical sense in the same way as get savaged is.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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