💇 Fake hair 😠 A scolding

wig

5 9.9

A severe scolding someone in charge gives for bad behaviour

noun
/wɪg/

Slang

: bronca

He got a serious wig about arriving late to the meeting.

Examples

My mother gave me a wig for staying out too late last night.
What do you expect after your little wig-out last month?

Blue Thunder (1983)
But it's obvious to me that you have flipped your wig.

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)
- You've flipped your wig.

Some Like It Hot (1959)
But you’re supposed to be the big wig that makes the big bucks, right?

Blog text (5)
After receiving that harsh wig from my boss, I knew I had to change my ways.

Synonyms

wigging

vswig

1 9.5

A strong scolding from someone in charge

is a sharper, more abrupt and severe telling-off

Idioms

to flip one's wig

Informal

9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

to have one's wig snatched

Slang

9.9

To feel very surprised by something that happens suddenly

wig snatched

Slang

9.9

Feeling very surprised and impressed in a dramatic way

Compounds

horsehair wig

1 9.0

A head covering made from horse hair that judges wear in court

wig out

Informal

1 9.8

A short time when someone gets very upset and loses control

Afro-wig

7.2

A wig of tight, thick curls that makes hair look big and round

wig tree

9.9

A shrub with large feathery plumes that look like puffs of smoke

How Harsh

dressing-down

Informal

1 7.7

berating

1 6.3

reprimand

Formal

24 6.1

wig

Slang

5 9.9

scolding

7 3.3

warning

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

wig singular

wigs plural

Etymology

Wig (British slang) for a scolding comes from the older slang wigging, which meant a quick telling-off, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of a short, sharp 'wig' like a fast, loud scold. So a wig is a 'telling-off'.