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

• (rebuke): give somebody a piece of one's mind, give somebody what-for, read somebody the riot act, scold; see also Wikisaurus:reprehend

Translations

References

• Oxford English Dictionary