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lecture

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curtain lectures

A wife's reprimands to her husband, conducted in private. Honey, you know I hate to give you curtain lectures, but can you please call when you're going to be late, so that our dinner isn't cold?

See also: curtain, lecture

lecture at someone (about something)

to talk to someone about something in the manner of a lecture. There is no need to lecture at me about the problem. I know how serious the matter is. Don't lecture at me all the time!

See also: lecture

lecture someone for something

to give someone a talking-to about something. Please don't lecture me for being late. It won't help now, will it? There is no point in lecturing us for something we didn't do.

See also: lecture

lecture

 ((to) someone) about someone or something and lecture ((to) someone) on someone or something

1. to give an instructional speech to someone about someone or something. He always lectured his children about their duty to vote. She lectured to all her classes on employment opportunities.

2. to scold someone about someone or something. Please don't lecture me about my behavior. I like Ted! Don't lecture about him.

read a lecture

Also, read a lesson. Issue a reprimand, as in Dad read us a lecture after the teacher phoned and complained. The first term dates from the late 1500s, the variant from the early 1600s. Also see read the riot act; teach a lesson.

See also: lecture, read

curtain lecture

A reprimand that a wife gives her husband. “Curtain” refers to the drapery on canopied beds; the image is that of a wife giving hubby a piece of her mind in the privacy of their bedroom.

See also: curtain, lecture