telling off
Sharp verbal rebuke
A telling off is a scolding or reprimand, typically from someone in authority: The teacher gave him a good telling off for talking in class.
The phrase comes from the verb phrase tell off, meaning to rebuke sharply: She told him off for being late again.
More common in British than American English.
Express sharp disapproval
- scoldRebuke harshly
- admonishReprove with counsel
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
- berateCriticize severely and lengthily
chide · upbraid · reproach · reprove · lecture · dress down · give an earful · read the riot act
rebuke
Express sharp disapproval
berate · chide · upbraid · reproach · reprove · lecture · dress down · give an earful · read the riot act · call out
- reprimandsrebuke, reprimand, censure, admonition, scolding
- reproachesblaming, scolding, rebuking, reprimanding, censuring
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- tiradestirades, tirade, rants, rant, harangues
- verbal fightsargument, quarrel, dispute, confrontation, shouting match
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
telling offpraising
Voicing admiration
commending · complimenting · lauding · congratulating · applauding
telling offbuttering up
Excessive flattery for advantage
flattering · sweet-talking · toadying · brown-nosing · kissing up to
telling offencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
reassuring · comforting · supporting · building up · affirming
tell, off, tells, telling, teller, tellers, tellings, retell, retells