bitching out
Giving someone hell
Bitching out means harshly criticizing or berating someone, often publicly or aggressively: The coach bitched us out after we lost.
It can also mean backing down from a challenge or losing nerve—a variant of chickening out: He was going to ask her out but bitched out at the last second.
The two senses are distinct: one is about attacking, the other about retreating.
- tearing intoCriticizing with intensity
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- rebukingVoicing sharp disapproval
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- hesitatingPausing with doubt
chastising · lambasting · laying into · reading the riot act · reneging · chickening out · wimping out · getting cold feet · losing nerve · backing out · copping out · flaking · admonishing · scolding · choke · complaining · retreating · abandoning
bitching outsoft-pedaling
Understating something deliberately
sugarcoating · biting one's tongue · measured response · holding one's peace · saying nothing
bitching outpraising
Voicing admiration
commending · complimenting · building up · encouraging · affirming
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