scold

scold (one) about (something)

To rebuke, upbraid, or criticize one about some problem, error, mistake, or wrongdoing. The manager scolded the entire team about the disastrous launch of their latest product. He scolded his daughter about the crayon marks all over the walls.

See also: scold

scold (one) for (something)

To rebuke, upbraid, or criticize one for some failure, error, mistake, or wrongdoing they have committed. The manager scolded him in front of entire team for being late again. He scolded his daughter for drawing all over the walls with her crayons. I had better go study. I don't need my parents scolding me for another low test score.

See also: for, scold

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

not let someone catch someone doing something

 and not want to catch someone doing something

an expression that scolds someone who has done something wrong. (The idea is that the person ought not to do the wrong thing again, not that the person simply avoid getting caught.) How many times have I told you not to play ball in the house? Don't let me catch you doing that again. If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: Don't do that! I don't want to catch you doing it again!

See also: catch, let, not

scold someone about something

to rebuke or chastise someone about something. How many times have I scolded you about that? Please don't scold me about something I didn't do.

See also: scold

scold someone for something

to rebuke or chastise someone for doing something. The manager scolded the worker for misplacing the door key. The teacher scolded all the students for their bad behavior.

See also: for, scold

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