give someone a tongue-lashing
give (one) a tongue-lashing
To give one a harsh vocal reprimand. The boss gave his sales team a real tongue-lashing after seeing a drop in profits for the fourth straight month.
See also: give
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
give someone a tongue-lashing
INFORMALIf someone gives you a tongue-lashing, they speak very angrily to you about something that you have done. The President of the EU Commission was given a tongue-lashing from the British Prime Minister. Note: You can also say that someone gets a tongue-lashing. Spot got the tongue-lashing that I felt I should have shared. Note: An occasion when someone speaks like this can be called a tongue-lashing. After a cruel tongue-lashing, he threw the girl out of the group.
See also: give, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- give (one) a tongue-lashing
- lashing
- tongue-lashing
- the rough side of (one's) tongue
- the rough edge of (one's) tongue
- the rough edge of your tongue
- give (someone) what for, to
- give someone an earful
- give (one) an earful
- haul (one) on the carpet