Scolding
101business — See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND OFFICE BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS …
102calling down — also[dressing down] {n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding; reprimand. * /The judge gave the boy a calling down for speeding./ …
103call on the carpet — {v. phr.}, {informal} To call (a person) before an authority (as a boss or teacher) for a scolding or reprimand. * /The worker was called on the carpet by the boss for sleeping on the job./ * /The principal called Tom on the carpet and warned him …
104devil — See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, FULL OF THE OLD NICK or FULL OF THE DEVIL, GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, GO TO THE DEVIL, PLAY THE DEVIL WITH, RAISE THE DEVIL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS …
105dressing down — {n.}, {informal} A scolding. * /The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined./ …
106hell — See: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, HELL ON WHEELS, LIKE HELL, TO HELL WITH, UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER, WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER …
107hold one's tongue — {v. phr.} To be silent; keep still; not talk. May be considered rude. * /The teacher told Fred to hold his tongue./ * /If people would hold their tongues from unkind speech, fewer people would be hurt/ …
108let off steam — or[blow off steam] {v. phr.} 1. To let or make steam escape; send out steam. * /The janitor let off some steam because the pressure was too high./ 2. {informal} To get rid of physical energy or strong feeling through activity; talk or be very… …
109read the riot act — {v. phr.} To give someone a strong warning or scolding. * /Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the riot act to them./ …
110slap down — {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop (someone, usually in a lower position or job) from doing or saying something, in a rough way or with a scolding; silence. * /When Billy talked back, the teacher slapped him down./ 2. To put a quick stop to; refuse roughly …