take a telling-off



Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

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

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
MikaelaMEE-kah-e-lah (Finnish)Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish
TahneeTAW-neeEnglish (Rare)
Viola['vaiələ]
Roly-English
Tane-Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Chlodulf-Ancient Germanic