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Definition 2024


tell_someone_off

tell off

English

Verb

tell off (third-person singular simple present tells off, present participle telling off, simple past and past participle told off)

  1. (transitive, idiomatic) To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish, often in a harsh, direct way.
  2. (transitive, idiomatic) To count (members of a sequence), to enumerate.
    • 1903, Field and Stream (page 755)
      The Recruit looked thoughtful and told off the days on his fingers.
  3. (transitive, idiomatic, military) To divide and practise a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Farrow to this entry?)

Synonyms

Translations

References

  • Oxford English Dictionary