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Glite Dictionary
to called on the mat

to called on the mat

8.9
To have a boss or leader tell you off for doing something wrong
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : ser llamado al orden
  • When the accounts didn't add up, the CFO was promptly called on the mat by the board.

Examples

  • After missing several deadlines, Jessica was called on the mat by her manager.

  • The officer was called on the mat for not following protocols during the operation.

  • Don't worry, you won't be called on the mat for this mistake!

  • Why was she called on the mat for her report?

  • After missing several deadlines, Jessica was called on the mat by her manager.

  • The officer was called on the mat for not following protocols during the operation.

  • When the accounts didn't add up, the CFO was promptly called on the mat by the board.

Synonyms

to catch it
vsto called on the mat
  • Informal
3 8.3

To be punished or scolded by someone in charge

also includes being required to explain or accept responsibility
to call on the carpet
vsto called on the mat
  • Archaic
3 7.9

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

can mean being held accountable without extreme severity
to call to account
vsto called on the mat
  • Formal
3 6.0

Make someone explain what they did and take responsibility

also involves formal reprimand or punishment rather than only demanding answers
to put on the mat
vsto called on the mat
8.4

Scold a person in front of others for a mistake

applies in many settings, not only formal confrontations

Antonyms

to reward
328 1.3

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

How Reprimanded

to dismiss
70 3.3
to discipline
47 3.4
to called on the mat
  • Archaic
8.9
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to warn
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

called on the mat infinitive
called on the mat past
called on the mat past participle
calling on the mat present participle
calls on the mat third person singular

Morphology

call + on + the + mat

Although 'call' can mean 'summon', the locative phrase 'on the mat' has no literal connection to being reprimanded, so the overall meaning 'to be reprimanded' cannot be predicted from the parts. This is an idiomatic construction (similar to 'called to the carpet') whose figurative sense is language-specific and would not be obvious to a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Called on the mat may come from old schoolrooms or offices where a person was asked to stand on a small mat in front of a teacher or boss to be 'told off'. That's why the phrase means 'to be reprimanded or held accountable'.