get an earful

get an earful

To receive a lengthy reprimand or lecture. I got an earful from my mom once she heard about my speeding ticket.
See also: earful, get
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • an earful
  • earful
  • give (one) an earful
  • give someone an earful
  • call (one) to task
  • bring (one) to task
  • admonish
  • admonish (one) for (something)
  • admonish for
  • call on the carpet
References in periodicals archive
JACK WILSHERE might get an earful from Roy Hodgson about smoking - if Arsene Wenger asks the England boss to reinforce the point.
Boss won't stick the Jack-knife in
The PC Magazine Singapore folks are about to get an earful on that matter from the powers in New York who licensed the title to them (thanks to some back-and-forth between the US version's chief editor and yours truly).
To the editor
Meanwhile, I'm rediscovering my old favorite places, and in one dive where they still call you "honey," I get an earful from a waitress about the President's most recent fundraising toe-dipping into town.
Meanwhile in America
"You're gonna get an earful," a farmer shouted across Main Street to the Transportation Department's Ken Kohl, before ducking back into his pickup truck after dropping off mail at the post office.
State Road Projects Spark Residents' Rage
Then, when patients get an earful from their doctors about how they'll suffer from health care reform, they'll be ready to fight back.
What Clinton could learn from the catastrophic health care catastrophe