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tell off

verb

Meaning

  • To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish, often in a harsh, angry, direct way.

    "Joel's boss told him off for being late again."

  • To count (members of a sequence), to enumerate.

  • To allocate duties to someone.

  • To divide and practise a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises.

Synonyms

enumerate,
number,
give somebody a piece of one's mind,
give somebody what-for,
read somebody the riot act,
scold