Idioms

bawl

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bawl (one's) eyes out

To sob or weep loudly, uncontrollably, and for a long period of time. After we broke up, I just lay on my bed and bawled my eyes out. How is Aunt Mary? Last I saw her, she was bawling her eyes out at the funeral. Luckily, my husband was home when I got the bad news, and he held me as I bawled my eyes out.
See also: bawl, eye, out

bawl out

1. To scold someone vehemently. A person's name or a pronoun can be used between "bawl" and "out." The teacher bawled us out when she caught us cheating on the test. I was bawled out by my mother for staying out past curfew. Ooh, Dad is gonna bawl you out when he finds out you lied to him!
2. To speak loudly. Be sure to bawl out the weekly announcements so everyone in the auditorium can hear them. It's like kids have no volume controls—they just bawl out everything they say. Bawl out the instructions when you're onstage, OK?
See also: bawl, out

give (one) a (good) bawling out

To scold one extensively. The teacher gave us a good bawling out when she caught us cheating on the test. My mother said she would give me a bawling out if I stayed out past curfew again. Ooh, Dad is gonna give you a good bawling out when he finds out you lied to him!
See also: bawl, give, out

take a bawling out

To receive a very severe rebuke, chastisement, or scolding (from someone). I sure took a bawling out from my parents after I smashed up their car.
See also: bawl, out, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bawl someone out

to scold someone in a loud voice. The teacher bawled the student out for arriving late. Principals don't usually bawl out students.
See also: bawl, out

give someone a (good) bawling out

to bawl someone out; to chastise someone. When the teacher caught Bil-lie, he gave him a good bawling out.
See also: bawl, give, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bawl out

1. Call out loudly, announce, as in Some of the players were quite hard of hearing, so the rector bawled out the bingo numbers . [1500s]
2. Scold or reprimand loudly, as in Her teacher was always bawling out the class for not paying attention. [c. 1900]
See also: bawl, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bawl out

v.
To scold someone loudly or harshly: My boss bawled me out for coming to work late. I am going to bawl out my students if they don't prepare for the next test.
See also: bawl, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
The doe's bawling played a key role in the encounter.
The whole herd: if a little calling is good, a whole lot calling might be a whole lot better
They should fire the lot and cancel this show with contestants that sound like coalmen bawling.
Texts
Besides, if any of us had to perform tuneless songs to bawling kids who'd still scream if you were playing Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down on the spoons, we'd probably turn to drugs as well.
Weed all be on drugs in 1D's shoes
Andy Murray admits he turned the air blue bawling at Laura Robson as they guaranteed at least silver by reaching the mixed doubles final.
Swear by them
Quite the best pictures to emerge were those of a couple of London "models" bawling their eyes out in disbelief as they were sent down for six weeks for stealing lingerie.
Shock and awe tactics
This week I had the misfortune to see one such big baby bawling his eyes out on live TV because West Ham United lost and will now have to play their football in the second tier of English football.
Stop blubbing and be a man about it!
hile the French Prez has been "shouting and bawling" at Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, over the euro's woes, his wife, Carla, is looking forward to improving foreign relations.
Carla Bruni 'eager' to meet David Cameron
I made the mistake of venturing into the Grapes pub on Mathew Street with an old friend on Sunday and found myself in the midst of karaoke hell, with drinkers screaming and bawling in their attempts at cheesy ballads.
A quiet pint? LETTERS to the EDITOR
He said: 'When I read the script I was bawling my eyes out at the end of reading it because of what he'd achieved, a sense of relief.'
Movie role reduces actor Ioan to tears
The near 15,000 made as much noise as happens at a boxing match and with the majority of them bawling out for O' Sullivan's victory it was not surprising that Ding finally broke down in tears.
Letter: You say - Crowd too rowdy
A If bawling babies haven't taught him, I'm afraid it will take a very disciplinarian wife, Laurie.
your life: A PAIN IN SPAIN; Ask Anna
Howe, 31, of Ellison Road, Dunston, was thrown out because he was "shouting and bawling" at her and then threatened to kill her and torch her home.
Dancer tells of death threats
Leading firefighter, Ian Scott, said: "The girl had got her leg caught in the bars which hold the bed together and was bawling her eyes out.
Fairy comes to the rescue
He said: "She held me tight when I was bawling my eyes out - she's fantastic."
Ace to wed his 'angel'
NEWS of yet another bawling holy sign from the gods.
Johnson: Man of the People: Mary's tears for souvenirs
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