reprove

reprove (someone or something) for (doing) (something)

To scold, criticize, or express disappointment in or disapproval of someone, oneself, or some group or organization for some action, error, or wrongdoing. It filled me with guilt the way my mother reproved me for failing my exam. The federal court reproved the banks for their part in plunging the economy into recession, but stopped short of actually imposing any punishment or penalty. He reproved himself for saying such foolish things on his date.

See also: for, reprove

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

reprove someone for something

to criticize or censure someone for something. The boss reproved all the employees for their use of the telephones for personal calls. We were all reproved for being late too often.

See also: for, reprove

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