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to chap someone's hide

to chap someone's hide

9.3
To scold someone angrily for something they did
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : reprender
  • If you miss another deadline, the manager will chap your hide in front of the whole team.

Examples

  • My mother really chapped my hide for tracking mud all through the house.

  • Don't chap my hide about the report—I did the best I could.

  • Don't chap his hide for making a mistake!

  • Why did Sarah chap your hide at the party?

  • If you forget to submit your assignment, your teacher will chap your hide during class.

  • After failing to deliver the project on time, my boss chapped my hide for not communicating sooner.

  • Don't let your colleague chap your hide over something trivial; it won't help your work relationship.

Synonyms

to scold
vsto chap someone's hide
55 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

is similar but often emphasizes stronger personal irritation
to let him have it
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but may be more focused on formal reproach than attack
to reprimand
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Formal
33 6.1

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

is less formal and used in everyday angry rebuke
to rebuke
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Formal
26 6.9

To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions

is more about angry personal scolding than official censure
to chide
vsto chap someone's hide
22 7.0

Tell someone you are unhappy with what they did

is stronger and angrier rather than primarily mild disapproval
to scorch
vsto chap someone's hide
15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is used for direct personal scolding rather than broad denunciation
to tell off
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
13 4.2

To speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong

is used for severe reproach not only for a single wrong
to chew out
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is similar but can be angry or merely irritated
to lambast
vsto chap someone's hide
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is similar but may focus more on immediate scolding than critique
to let someone have it
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is comparable but can be more focused on stern rebuke
to harangue
vsto chap someone's hide
7 8.9

To speak angrily to someone for a long time

is more about short angry reprimand than long critical speeches
to give someone the business
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
5 8.3

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but may be more about stern reproach than insult
to rake over the coals
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is comparable but may be briefer and more personal
to jump down someone's throat
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
4 8.2

To suddenly speak angrily and criticize someone for a small mistake

is used for deliberate severe reprimand rather than impulsive reaction
to call on the carpet
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Archaic
3 7.9

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

is less formal and occurs in ordinary angry situations
to upbraid
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Formal
3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is similar but often more emotionally angry and irritated
to tear someone a new one
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Offensive
3 9.8

To scold someone very harshly

is comparable but sometimes milder or more annoyed
to dress down
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
3 6.3

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong

is often angrier and more irritated in person
to tear (someone) a new one
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is similar but may be slightly less extreme in tone
to give someone what for
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but not always tied to a single mistake
to read the riot act
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
1 7.9

To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment

is used for severe reproach without necessarily threatening consequences
to scald
vsto chap someone's hide
1 8.1

To criticize someone or something very harshly

is more about personal angry reprimand than general criticism
to haul over the coals
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
1 8.6

To scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is similar but need not be as thorough or exhaustive
to call down
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but often shows more piercing personal irritation
to bawl out
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
6.7

Shout loudly at someone because they did something wrong

is similar but does not require loud shouting
to give an earful
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
7.7

Angrily tell someone they did something wrong

is similar but can be shorter and sharper in anger
to vituperate
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is similar but may be less abusive and more straightforward anger
to have someone's hide
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
7.9

To punish or scold someone strongly for making a mistake

is used for angry scolding without implying punishment threat
to tan someone's hide
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Archaic
9.5

To punish someone very harshly, often by hitting or scolding them

is chiefly about harsh verbal scolding rather than punishment
to hand you your head
vsto chap someone's hide
  • UK
9.9

Scold someone very strongly, often in front of others

is mainly an angry verbal scolding rather than enforcement
to light someone's ass up
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Offensive
9.9

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong, often in front of others

is similar but sometimes less forceful or abrasive in tone
to get on someone's grill
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Slang
9.9

To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did

is about severe angry reproach rather than confrontational questioning
to snap someone's head off
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Offensive
8.0

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

is similar but usually shows clear irritation rather than impulsive snapping
to brush down
vsto chap someone's hide
  • Informal
7.9

To tell someone off angrily

is similar but often carries more personal anger than correction focus

Antonyms

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Severe

to chap someone's hide
  • Informal
9.3
to tell off
  • Informal
13 4.2
to scold
55 2.2
to warn
1.0

Surface Forms

chap someone's hide infinitive
chapped someone's hide past participle
chapping someone's hide present participle
chaps someone's hide third person singular

Morphology

chap + someone's + hide

The constituent meanings ('chap' as an informal fellow, 'someone's' possessive, 'hide' as animal skin) do not transparently combine to yield 'scold or reprimand severely.' The phrase is idiomatic and potentially evokes physical beating (hitting someone's hide) or uses a different grammatical role for 'chap' than listed, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not reliably infer the intended sense.

Etymology

Chap someone's hide may come from the picture of rough hands or a whip making a person's skin sore and cracked. The verb chap means to make skin hurt and hide means skin, so that strong image is why the phrase now means 'to scold or punish someone badly'.