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Glite Dictionary
to give an earful

to give an earful

7.7
Angrily tell someone they did something wrong
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : dar una reprimenda
  • My boss gave me an earful when I arrived late to work again.

Examples

  • She gave an earful to her son for being late.

  • She gave him an earful for forgetting their anniversary.

  • If you make that mistake, the coach will definitely give you an earful after the game.

  • Don't give an earful to me!

  • My boss gave me an earful when I arrived late to work again.

  • If you make that mistake, the coach will definitely give you an earful after the game.

  • She gave him an earful for forgetting their anniversary.

Synonyms

to yell at
vsto give an earful
379 1.4

Shout in an angry voice at someone

involves longer loud speaking and sustained anger rather than short shouting
to chew out
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

speaks loudly or at length to express anger rather than only harsh words
to give someone what for
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

focuses on speaking at length and showing anger rather than brief scolding
to bawl out
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
6.7

Shout loudly at someone because they did something wrong

uses extended loud speech to express anger rather than a single shout
to give what-for
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
9.5

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

expresses anger by talking at length rather than punishing
to chap someone's hide
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

shows anger by long loud talking instead of only short irritation
to give (someone) a piece of one's mind
vsto give an earful
  • Informal
7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them

does this through extended loud speech rather than only direct words
to give a speaking to
vsto give an earful
  • UK
6.9

To tell someone they behaved badly in a serious way

is more like a long loud angry talk rather than a formal rebuke

Antonyms

compliment
342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

praise
161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Harsh

to lambaste
1 8.0
to berate
36 7.2
to give an earful
  • Informal
7.7
to tell off
  • Informal
13 4.2
to chide
22 7.0

Surface Forms

give an earful infinitive
gave an earful past
given an earful past participle
giving an earful present participle
gives an earful third person singular

Morphology

give + an + earful

The phrase uses the productive pattern 'give someone a(n) X' combined with the noun 'earful' (a strong angry reprimand), so the overall meaning 'to reprimand someone harshly' is directly derivable from the constituents. A B1 learner who knows 'give' and the noun 'earful' will therefore readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The idiom give an earful imagines someone leaning close and shouting many angry words into another person's ear, as if filling it with loud words. So, it means 'to scold' or 'to tell someone off' loudly.