ticking off
Irritating someone greatly
Ticking off has two distinct meanings depending on region.
In American English, to tick someone off is to annoy or anger them: His constant lateness really ticks me off.
In British English, ticking off means reprimanding or scolding: She got a ticking off from her boss for missing the deadline.
Both derive from tick as marking items on a list—either grievances accumulating or faults being enumerated.
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- dressing downHarsh verbal reprimand
- admonishingExpressing disapproval firmly
- chideRebuke mildly
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
reprimand · reading the riot act · checking · lecture · enumerating · aggravation · upbraid · itemizing · to-do list · completing · chastisement · bothering · tallying · finishing · counting down · berating · bomb · time bomb
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
- finishingcompleting, finalizing, finishing, done, concluded
ticking offpleasing
Causing enjoyment or satisfaction
calming · soothing · delighting · appeasing · placating
ticking offadding on
Increasing by attachment
queuing up · starting · ignoring · skipping · beginning
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