to put on the mat - Glite Dictionary

Examples

The teacher put the student on the mat for failing to complete his homework on time.
The coach decided to put the player on the mat after his repeated mistakes during the game.
Once they went back to the feet, Hominick hurt Garza with a punch and a knee and put him on the mat.

Blog text (16)

Synonyms

to get it

vsto put on the mat

Informal

113 8.2

To be punished or scolded for something you did

is a planned formal confrontation rather than any general punishment

to reprimand

vsto put on the mat

Formal

33 6.1

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

is the same formal criticism expressed as a specific confrontation phrase

to take to task

vsto put on the mat

18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is an official, face to face confrontation rather than general criticism

to put in one's place

vsto put on the mat

Informal

9 7.2

Make someone feel ashamed or less important by showing your power

is a formal reprimand focused on fault, not on social humiliation

to call on the carpet

vsto put on the mat

Archaic

3 7.9

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

is a formal confrontation that focuses specifically on fault or wrongdoing

to read the riot act

vsto put on the mat

Informal

1 7.9

To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment

is a formal reprimand without the extra explicit threat element

to give someone what for

vsto put on the mat

Informal

1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is an official reprimand rather than an informal angry scolding

to called on the mat

vsto put on the mat

Archaic

8.9

To have a boss or leader tell you off for doing something wrong

is an official, formal reprimand for mistakes or wrongdoing

to chap someone's hide

vsto put on the mat

Informal

9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is a formal, authoritative confrontation rather than angry informal rebuke

Antonyms

to praise

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

to reward

328 1.3

To give something to someone to thank them for doing something good

How Reprimanding

to discipline

47 3.4

to put on the mat

8.4

to rebuke

Formal

26 6.9

to speak to

∞ 1.7

Surface Forms

put on the mat infinitive

put on the mat past

put on the mat past participle

putting on the mat present participle

puts on the mat third person singular

Morphology

put + on + the + mat

The sense 'to formally reprimand or confront' cannot be derived from the literal meanings of 'put' + 'on' + 'the' + 'mat', which denote placing something onto a floor covering. This is an idiomatic use (similar to 'on the carpet') that requires prior exposure and is not predictably compositional for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase put on the mat may come from the idea of placing someone onto a mat to be questioned or punished, like a wrestler pinned in front of others. So, it now means 'to formally reprimand or confront someone'.