take a telling-off
take a telling-off
To be scolded, rebuked, or reprimanded, as for a wrongdoing. I took a telling-off from my teacher in front of the whole class for sticking my tongue out at him. My brother just can't take a telling-off. If our parents even raise their voices to him, he starts getting teary-eyed!
See also: take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- get taken to task (by someone)
- be taken to task (by someone)
- give somebody/get what for
- get (the) what for
- scold (one) for (something)
- scold for
- crack a joke
- scolding
- scold
- scold (one) about (something)