give someone what-for

See also: give someone what for

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

give someone what-for (third-person singular simple present gives someone what-for, present participle giving someone what-for, simple past gave someone what-for, past participle given someone what-for)

1. (idiomatic) To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.

   He really gave the kid what-for about the baseball through his window.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:reprehend

See also

• take someone to task
• tell off