telling-off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I think my grandmother would have given me a proper telling-off if she'd been told she had to reserve online at the heuriger!" he joked.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Lou Campbell, a relationship counsellor, explains that the telling-off "is entirely made for TV" as qualified therapists "challenge behaviours" but don't scold their clients.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2024
On one occasion, when he almost destroyed it, Bob recalled getting a severe telling-off from his mum, who "stood it up again, bandaged it up and it took off again."
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2023
Mrs. Agbani had given them a round telling-off.
From New York Times ● Sep. 3, 2021
Later, some people said they’d thought she was going to give us a big telling-off; others that she was about to announce a new rule on how we played rounders.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
