rapped someone's knuckles
Gave mild rebuke
To rap someone's knuckles is to give them a sharp reprimand or minor punishment, typically for a small offense.
The phrase comes from the old practice of striking a student's knuckles with a ruler.
Now it's almost always figurative: The committee rapped her knuckles for missing the deadline.
The punishment implied is corrective rather than severe.
- call outPublicly confront or summon
- admonishReprove with counsel
- slap on the wristTrivially lenient penalty
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
warn · stern warning · penalize · take to task · rebuke · correct · scold · wag a finger · slap · discipline · censure · tap · rap · tell off · knock · dress down · flick · pat
rapped someone's knucklespraised
Expressed approval of
rewarded · commended · lauded · applauded · congratulated
rapped someone's knuckleslet off the hook
turned a blind eye · looked the other way · forgave · pardoned · excused
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