kick in the teeth

Strongest matches

• rebuke
• rejection
• reprimand
• snub

Strong matches

• check
• cut
• defeat
• denial
• discouragement
• insult
• nix
• opposition
• refusal
• repulse
• slight
• turndown

Weak matches

• brush-off
• cold shoulder
• go-by
• hard time
• nothing doing
• thumbs-down

Strongest matches

• admonition
• censure
• condemnation
• disapproval
• punishment
• rebuff
• reproach
• snub

Strong matches

• admonishment
• affliction
• berating
• blame
• castigation
• chiding
• comeuppance
• correction
• earful
• expostulation
• going-over
• lecture
• lesson
• objurgation
• ostracism
• put down
• rap
• rating
• refusal
• remonstrance
• reprehension
• reproof
• reproval
• repulse
• row
• scolding
• tongue-lashing
• upbraiding

Weak matches

• bawling-out
• chewing-out
• dressing-down
• hard time
• slap in the face
• talking-to
• telling-off

Weak matches

• no pity
• no quarter
• pitilessness
• small portion
• tender mercies
• unsympathetic treatment

Strongest matches

• disconcert
• mortify

Strong matches

• chasten
• dash
• debunk
• dispirit
• humble

Weak matches

• cut down to size
• knock down
• let down easy
• let wind out of sails
• puncture balloon
• put down
• shoot down
• take down

Strongest matches

• fend off
• overthrow
• put down
• rebuff
• repel
• resist
• ward off

Strong matches

• check
• defeat
• nix
• rebut
• reject

Weak matches

• beat off
• brush off
• drive back
• fight off
• heave-ho
• hold off
• keep off
• push back
• set back
• stave off
• throw back

Strong matches

• blacken
• blemish
• blister
• blot
• brand
• calumniate
• cap
• chop
• defame
• denigrate
• detract
• discredit
• disgrace
• insinuate
• libel
• malign
• miff
• offend
• push
• reproach
• roast
• scorch
• slander
• slight
• smear
• snub
• spatter
• stain
• traduce
• vilify
• zing

Weak matches

• blow off
• cut to the quick
• cut up
• dump on
• give a black eye
• hit where one lives
• put down
• skin alive
• slap in the face
• tear down