bawl
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Related to bawl: bawl out
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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.
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.
2. To speak loudly. Be sure to bawl out the weekly announcements so everyone in the auditorium can hear them.
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.
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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 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.
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.
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]
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.
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.