Scolding
81bark worse than one's bite — {informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. * /The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ * /The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ *… …
82be into something — {v. phr.}, {informal} To have taken something up partly as a nobby, partly as a serious interest of sorts (basically resulting from the new consciousness and self realization movement that originated in the late Sixties). * /Roger s wife is into… …
83business — See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND OFFICE BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS …
84calling down — also[dressing down] {n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding; reprimand. * /The judge gave the boy a calling down for speeding./ …
85call 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 …
86devil — 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 …
87dressing down — {n.}, {informal} A scolding. * /The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined./ …
88hell — 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 …
89hold 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/ …
90let 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… …
