to brush down

Examples

• All

• The teacher brushed down the students for talking over her during the lesson.

• After the mistake was found, the manager brushed down the junior staff in front of everyone.

• He was brushed down by his coach for not following instructions during practice.

• If you keep talking during the meeting, you'll just get brushed down again.

• She brushed down his ideas during the meeting.

• Can you brush down my proposal later?

• During the feedback session, she brushed down his presentation for being poorly prepared.

Synonyms

L

to let him have it

vsto brush down

• Informal

44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but usually focuses on sharp correction rather than attack

C

to come down

vsto brush down

• Informal

37 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

is similar but stresses force and immediacy of the reprimand

R

to reprimand

vsto brush down

• Formal

33 6.1

To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge

is more informal and often sharper in tone rather than formal

T

to tell off

vsto brush down

• Informal

13 4.2

To speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong

is similar but implies a sharper or more forceful rebuke

C

to chew out

vsto brush down

• Informal

13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is similar but leans toward sharp force rather than personal attack

W

to wash one's mouth out

vsto brush down

• Informal

5 7.4

To tell someone off for saying rude words, sometimes by putting soap in their mouth

is harsher and more forceful, not usually playful or self-directed

R

to rake over the coals

vsto brush down

• Informal

4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is equally severe but focuses more on a single sharp correction

U

to upbraid

vsto brush down

• Formal

3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is more about blunt forceful correction than moral lecture

C

to call on the carpet

vsto brush down

• Archaic

3 7.9

To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others

is used more generally for sharp, forceful rebukes outside formal settings

D

to dress down

vsto brush down

• Informal

3 6.3

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong

is like this but can be more brief and direct rather than public

C

to chap someone's hide

vsto brush down

• Informal

9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is similar but is less about a rough tone and more about force

H

to hand you your head

vsto brush down

• UK

9.9

Scold someone very strongly, often in front of others

is about sharp verbal correction rather than implied punishment

Antonyms

E

to encourage

∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

P

to praise

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

How Harsh

to lambaste

1 8.0

to berate

36 7.2

to brush down

• Informal

7.9

to reprimand

• Formal

33 6.1

to scold

55 2.2

to chide

22 7.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology