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to get on someone's grill

to get on someone's grill

9.9
To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡɛt ɑn ˈsʌmˌwʌnz ɡrɪl/
  • Slang
translation icon : darle la lata a alguien
  • My parents always get on my grill when my grades drop.

Examples

  • Please don't get on my grill about the mess—I said I'd clean it up.

  • If you keep messing around, the coach will get on your grill during practice.

  • Don't get on his grill about the project!

  • Why do you always get on her grill?

  • My teacher always gets on my grill when I don’t turn in my homework.

  • If you keep being late, he will definitely get on your grill about it.

  • She tends to get on his grill when he doesn’t follow the rules.

Synonyms

to confront
vsto get on someone's grill
310 4.1

Face someone directly in an angry or challenging way to accuse them

is more about direct aggressive criticism rather than neutral facing
to taunt
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
93 5.8

To mock someone again and again to make them angry or upset

is about confronting and criticizing directly rather than teasing to provoke
to lash out
vsto get on someone's grill
71 5.6

Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing

is more often a sustained or planned aggressive confrontation
to blast
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Literature
61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

is more about confronting someone face to face than public attacks
to grill
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
59 4.9

To question someone firmly to get information

focuses on aggressive criticism rather than thorough interrogation
to let him have it
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is about confronting someone aggressively rather than just criticizing
to scorch
vsto get on someone's grill
15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is more interpersonal and confrontational than general harsh denunciation
to chew out
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is broader, focusing on aggressive confrontation rather than just scolding
to let someone have it
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is more focused on direct face to face confrontation
to harangue
vsto get on someone's grill
7 8.9

To speak angrily to someone for a long time

is usually shorter and more directly aggressive rather than long speeches
to rake over the coals
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is more immediate aggressive confrontation rather than a thorough punishment
to jump down someone's throat
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
4 8.2

To suddenly speak angrily and criticize someone for a small mistake

is used for deliberate aggressive confronting rather than instant reactions
to put on blast
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
3 9.5

Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did

is about confronting someone directly, not mainly public shaming
to upbraid
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Formal
3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is more confrontational and aggressive than a formal scolding
to chew up
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
2 7.1

To scold someone angrily and severely

is more about facing someone directly rather than formal censure
to rip someone's head off
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
1 8.5

Shout at someone in a very angry way and threaten them

is similar but emphasizes deliberate confrontation rather than sudden rage
to round on
vsto get on someone's grill
  • UK
1 8.3

To suddenly attack someone with angry words

is similar but often implies an ongoing aggressive confrontation
to call down
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is more about face to face aggressive challenge than mere reprimand
to hit out at
vsto get on someone's grill
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is mainly a direct private confrontation rather than public criticism
to give (someone) a piece of one's mind
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them

is more about aggressive confrontation than simply expressing anger
to eat someone's head off
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
9.1

To speak angrily to someone and criticize them

is more focused on deliberate confrontation than a single outburst
to snap someone's head off
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
8.0

To speak to someone in a sudden angry way without good reason

is more about confronting someone aggressively than sudden angry replies
to chap someone's hide
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is focused on direct aggressive confrontation rather than angry reprimand alone
to vituperate
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is a direct aggressive confrontation rather than extended abusive speech
to throw brickbats
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is focused on direct aggressive confrontation rather than public critique
to put the boot in
vsto get on someone's grill
  • UK
9.1

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

is a general aggressive confrontation, not specifically attacking the weak
to put one's foot in someone's ass
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Offensive
9.9

To yell at or threaten someone to make them try harder

is about confronting or criticizing directly rather than threatening punishment
to put the bad mouth on
vsto get on someone's grill
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is more about direct aggressive face to face criticism rather than speaking ill

Antonyms

1.0

Give help to a person or idea

1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Confrontational

to berate
36 7.2
to get on someone's grill
  • Slang
9.9
to confront
310 4.1
to call out
  • Texting
68 4.6
to challenge
  • Formal
552 4.3

Surface Forms

gotten on someone's grill past participle
getting on someone's grill present participle
gets on someone's grill third person singular

Morphology

get + on + someone's + grill

The sense can be partially derived from the parts: 'get on' (to bother/attack someone) + 'grill' (to question or press aggressively) yields the idea of confronting or criticizing someone. However, the phrase is informal/colloquial and relies on the metaphorical use of 'grill'; a typical B1 learner who only knows the literal cooking sense of 'grill' may not predict the idiomatic meaning, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Get on someone's grill comes from a slang use of grill for a person's 'face' or 'mouth'. If someone stands close and shouts at your 'face', they are 'getting on your grill', so the phrase now means 'to confront or criticize someone'.