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Glite Dictionary
to let him have it

to let him have it

1 8.1
To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: regañar
  • Now tear in and let him have it from both sides.
  • then let him have it
  • really let him have it
  • going to let him have it

So dude comes in, sits down and my CMC just let him have it.

Examples

Synonyms

to let someone have it
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
58 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is identical in meaning but differs only in wording or phrasing
to scold
vsto let him have it
54 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

is similar but can be more direct and confrontational
to come down
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
54 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

expresses strong disapproval but can be used more broadly
to berate
vsto let him have it
36 7.2

Scold someone angrily and severely

is similar but may be used in broader everyday speech
to give someone hell
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
35 8.1

To scold someone very strongly for something they did

is about strong disapproval without necessarily punishing
to reprimand
vsto let him have it
  • Formal
33 6.1

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

is often informal and emotional rather than formal and official
to chastise
vsto let him have it
  • Formal
32 7.6

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is mainly about sharp anger or direct scolding rather than morality
to rebuke
vsto let him have it
  • Formal
25 6.9

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

is similar but more informal and angry rather than official
to chew out
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
25 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

expresses strong disapproval but not always with visible anger
piece of someone's mind
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
23 7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are unhappy with them

is similar but the key is often sharper and more forceful
to chide
vsto let him have it
21 7.0

Tell someone you are unhappy with what they did

is harsher and more forceful than this gentler reproach
to tell off
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
20 4.2

To speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong

is similar but the key can be more intense or cutting
to take to task
vsto let him have it
20 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is broader harsh disapproval, not only for a single mistake
to lambast
vsto let him have it
11 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

expresses strong disapproval but can be less literary and harsher
to chew up
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
10 7.1

To scold someone angrily and severely

covers strong criticism but can be less violent in tone
to rake over the coals
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
6 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

expresses severe disapproval but not necessarily prolonged punishment
to give someone what for
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
5 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is the same idea but can imply sharper reprimand intensity
to tear someone a new one
vsto let him have it
  • Offensive
4 9.8

To scold someone very harshly

conveys severe disapproval but may avoid extreme vulgarity
to give someone the business
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
3 8.3

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is similar but used more generally for angry criticism
to upbraid
vsto let him have it
  • Formal
3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is similar but often feels more formal or written
to have someone's hide
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
3 7.9

To punish or scold someone strongly for making a mistake

expresses disapproval but may be used in less physical sense
to call down
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is more personal and direct, not necessarily public
to haul over the coals
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
1 8.6

To scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is the same strong disapproval but may be less idiomatic
to chap someone's hide
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
1 9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

expresses strong disapproval but may be less idiomatic
to snap someone's head off
vsto let him have it
  • Offensive
1 8.0

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

is about strong disapproval that can be justified and deliberate
to get on someone's grill
vsto let him have it
  • Slang
1 9.9

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

is angry criticism but can be less confrontational or more formal
to vituperate
vsto let him have it
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

expresses strong disapproval but may be less abusive in tone
to give a speaking to
vsto let him have it
  • UK
1 6.9

To tell someone they behaved badly in a serious way

is a sharp personal scolding rather than formal address
to give hell
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
8.1

To scold or punish someone angrily for something they did wrong

expresses strong disapproval but can be slightly less violent
to give what-for
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
9.5

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

expresses sharp disapproval but can be less forceful overall
to hand you your head
vsto let him have it
  • UK
9.9

Scold someone very strongly, often in front of others

expresses disapproval mainly by sharp scolding rather than punishment
to give (someone) a piece of one's mind
vsto let him have it
  • Informal
7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them

is similar but often more idiomatic and possibly harsher
to put one's foot in someone's ass
vsto let him have it
  • Offensive
9.9

To yell at or threaten someone to make them try harder

expresses disapproval but can be less crude and less threatening

Antonyms

to praise
381 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

How Harsh

to let him have it
  • Informal
1 8.1
to tell off
  • Informal
20 4.2
to scold
54 2.2
to criticize
653 3.3

Surface Forms

let him have it infinitive
let him have it past
let him have it past participle
letting him have it present participle
lets him have it third person singular

Morphology

let + him + have + it

The literal composition 'let' (allow) + 'him' + 'have' + 'it' would be interpreted by a learner as permitting him to receive or possess something, which does not map onto the idiomatic sense 'to scold or attack him.' The idiomatic meaning is context-dependent and partly metaphorical (and can even imply physical attack), so a B1 learner who only knows the component words is unlikely to predict this sense.

Etymology

Let him have it comes from an old image of allowing someone to receive a hard hit — to have it meant to get a blow or attack. So when people say let him have it about words, they mean to give strong criticism or 'to scold' someone.