de oren wassen

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Dutch

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Etymology

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Literally, to wash [someone's] ears. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Verb

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de oren wassen

  1. (idiomatic, with indirect object) to rebuke, scold, reprimand severely, put someone in their place
    Synonym: terechtwijzen
    Ze waste de spijbelaar de oren.She severely reprimanded the truant.

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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