telling-off
Sharp parental lecture
A telling-off is a sharp rebuke or scolding, typically from someone in authority: The teacher gave him a telling-off for talking in class.
The phrase implies a firm verbal reprimand rather than formal punishment.
British English favors this term; Americans more often say chewing-out or talking-to.
Harsh verbal criticism
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- chidingVoicing mild disapproval
reproach · lecture · upbraiding · berating · dressing-down · tongue-lashing · earful · roasting
Formal expression of disapproval
- admonitionMild verbal correction
- warningAlert about danger
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
denunciation · castigation · objurgation · animadversion · excoriation · opprobrium · vituperation · stricture
Harsh verbal criticism
- lectureEducational spoken presentation
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
chiding · grounding · punishment · consequences · reproach · talking-to · disapproval · timeout
scolding
Harsh verbal criticism
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
chiding · reproach · lecture · upbraiding · berating · dressing-down · tongue-lashing · earful · roasting · carpeting
reprimand
Formal expression of disapproval
- admonitionMild verbal correction
- warningAlert about danger
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
condemnation · denunciation · castigation · objurgation · animadversion · excoriation · opprobrium · vituperation · stricture · rebuff
scolding
Harsh verbal criticism
- lectureEducational spoken presentation
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
discipline · chiding · grounding · punishment · consequences · reproach · talking-to · disapproval · timeout · warning
tirade
Extended angry speech
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- diatribeBitter, prolonged verbal attack
- rantAngry prolonged outburst
lambasting · broadside · volley · outburst · blasting · fulmination · attack · barrage · torrent
- rebukescold, reprimand, chide, admonish, berate
- reproachesblaming, scolding, rebuking, reprimanding, censuring
- tiradestirades, tirade, rants, rant, harangues
- verbal fightsargument, quarrel, dispute, confrontation, shouting match
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
- critical assessmentsinspection, review, audit, checkup, scrutiny
telling-offpraise
Expression of approval
compliment · commendation · accolade · applause · kudos
telling-offreward
Payment for service
approval · congratulation · commendation · encouragement · recognition
tell, telling, teller, tells, retell, foretell, telltale, retelling, retells