chew out

chew out

slang To scold or berate one harshly or angrily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "chew" and "out." The boss is totally going to chew us out if he hears that we lost that big client. Ooh, Mom is gonna chew you out when she finds out you're failing math. You dented my brand-new car while you were out joyriding with your friends? Oh, I'm chewing you out when you get home, mister!

See also: chew, out

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

chew someone out

 and eat someone out

Fig. to scold someone. The sergeant chewed the corporal out; then the corporal chewed the private out. The boss is always chewing out somebody.

See also: chew, out

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

chew out

Scold harshly, as in Dad will chew you out for taking the car without permission. Originating in the military, this slangy term began to be used during World War I and soon spread to civilian life. Several vulgar versions, such as chew someone's ass out, should be avoided in polite speech. Also see eat out, def. 2.

See also: chew, 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.

chew out

v. Slang

To scold or reprimand someone: The teacher chewed us out for being late.

See also: chew, 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.

chew someone out

tv. to scold someone. I knew my dad was going to chew me out.

See also: chew, out, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.