to dress down

Examples

• All

• After the presentation, the team leader dressed down John for not being prepared, which embarrassed him in front of his colleagues.

• In his memoirs, Hoxha claimed the Soviet premier dressed him down, saying, "Why do you employ all these funds on such dead things?"

  Academic text (2006)

• If she felt the need to dress this guy down, she could have turned and very loudly told him off.

  Blog text (30)

• A deputy chief and a lieutenant dressed down the company, demanding respect for the chief and threatening criminal charges.

  Blog text (27)

• I don't understand why anybody should ever verbally dress down an employee in a meeting ever.

• While continuing to dress him down, the man asked if Clark was "trying to get himself killed? Because if you keep playing John Wayne, you're not going to make it out of here" (91-2).

  Academic text (2013)

• She dressed down Wee Wooly Willie Ackers because he was eating a mutton sandwich not during the regular lunch hour but at ten-thirty in the morning.

  Fiction book (1994)

• The manager dressed down the employee for his repeated tardiness, making it clear that such behavior was unacceptable.

Synonyms

L

to lecture

vsto dress down

89 4.6

To give someone a long serious talk that warns or scolds them about what they did

focuses more on brief severe reprimand rather than extended lecturing

S

to scold

vsto dress down

55 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

is the same idea but may emphasize harsher personal attack

C

to come down

vsto dress down

• Informal

37 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

is the basic severe spoken rebuke but may be less formal

B

to berate

vsto dress down

36 7.2

Scold someone angrily and severely

is the same harsh rebuke but sometimes less prolonged

R

to reprimand

vsto dress down

• Formal

33 6.1

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

is similar but often used in everyday informal contexts

R

to rebuke

vsto dress down

• Formal

26 6.9

To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions

is similar but less tied to formal or official settings

C

to chide

vsto dress down

22 7.0

Tell someone you are unhappy with what they did

is similar but often stronger and more severe in delivery

T

to take to task

vsto dress down

18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is the same strong rebuke but can be more general

C

to chew out

vsto dress down

• Informal

13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is the same idea but can be less angrily forceful

L

to lambast

vsto dress down

12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is similar but sometimes more private and less public facing

L

to let someone have it

vsto dress down

• Informal

11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is mainly about severe spoken reprimand rather than punishment

G

to give someone the business

vsto dress down

• Informal

5 8.3

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is the same severe rebuke but can be less slangy

C

to call on the carpet

vsto dress down

• Archaic

3 7.9

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

is like this but fits casual or private reprimands as well

C

to chew up

vsto dress down

• Informal

2 7.1

To scold someone angrily and severely

is similar but may imply spoken rebuke without anger focus

G

to give someone what for

vsto dress down

• Informal

1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but may be more controlled or formal

R

to read the riot act

vsto dress down

• Informal

1 7.9

To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment

is similar but often lacks the explicit threat element

L

to lambaste

vsto dress down

1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is similar but can be more private and directed at a person

C

to call down

vsto dress down

• Informal

1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but can be more informal or colloquial in tone

B

to bawl out

vsto dress down

• Informal

6.7

Shout loudly at someone because they did something wrong

is similar but can be quieter or less public

C

to chap someone's hide

vsto dress down

• Informal

9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is similar but possibly less physical or violent in tone

T

to tan someone's hide

vsto dress down

• Archaic

9.5

To punish someone very harshly, often by hitting or scolding them

focuses on strong verbal rebuke rather than physical punishment

L

to light someone's ass up

vsto dress down

• Offensive

9.9

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong, often in front of others

is similar but may be used in less crude language

B

to brush down

vsto dress down

• Informal

7.9

To tell someone off angrily

is similar but can be less abrupt or severe in tone

Antonyms

P

praise

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

C

to commend

67 4.4

To praise someone or something for good work

How Harsh

to lambaste

1 8.0

to berate

36 7.2

to dress down

• Informal

3 6.3

to rebuke

• Formal

26 6.9

to scold

55 2.2

to chide

22 7.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology