telling-off

/ˌtelɪŋ ˈɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌtelɪŋ ˈɔːf/ (ame, ipa)

telling-off — noun

1. A telling-off is a situation in which someone is scolded by another person for b

1.名詞B1
釋義

A telling-off is a situation in which someone is scolded by another person for bad behaviour or a mistake.

例句

Gita gave her younger brother a telling-off for breaking her headphones.

give [sb] a telling-off for [sth]

After crashing the car, Andrew received a proper telling-off from his parents.

receive a telling-off from [sb]

同義詞
  • scolding

    more general and slightly more common; works in both British and American English

  • reprimand

    more formal and official; often used in institutional or workplace contexts

  • dressing-down

    informal and more intense than a telling-off; suggests a longer, harsher scolding

  • rebuke

    formal and literary; suggests disapproval expressed in strong, serious language

反義詞
  • praise

    expression of approval instead of disapproval

  • compliment

    positive feedback given for good behaviour or work

文法句型

give [sb] a telling-off

get/receive a telling-off

用法筆記

This noun always contains a hyphen. The corresponding verb form is the phrasal verb 'tell off' (e.g. 'His mother told him off for being late'). In American English, 'scolding' or 'dressing-down' are more common alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌My mother telling-off me for being late.
✅My mother gave me a telling-off for being late.
💡'telling-off' is a noun, not a verb. Use the phrasal verb 'tell off' or the construction 'give someone a telling-off'.