1. (

• berating ,
• blowing_up

) a severe rebuke; "he deserved the berating that the coach gave him" ;

1. (

• call_on_the_carpet ,
• take_to_task ,
• rebuke ,
• rag ,
• trounce ,
• lecture ,
• reprimand ,
• jaw ,
• dress_down ,
• call_down ,
• scold ,
• chide ,
• berate ,
• bawl_out ,
• remonstrate ,
• chew_out ,
• chew_up ,
• have_words ,
• lambaste ,
• lambast

) censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup" ;