give someone what for en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From 19th century, as a threatening rebuke to an impertinent (by 19th century standards) question of "what for?". Parent: "Go to your room." Child: "What for?" Parent (angrily): "Disobey me, and I'll give you 'what for'!"
Meanings
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(idiomatic, slang) To punish; to rebuke.
2002, Joss Whedon, "The Ballad of Jayne Cobb" in "Jaynestown", Firefly. He robbed from the rich, and he gave to the poor / Stood up to The Man and he gave him what for.
She gave him what for all right. But you could see she was ever so pleased and she went around telling everybody about it.
2007, Wilbur Smith, The Sound of Thunder, page 135:... 'e gived 'em up, an' repented somethin' horrid — there still bein' the buns to come — but Miss Soapy she gave 'im what- for-proper, she did!
1912, Edward Burke, Bachelor's Buttons: The Candid Confessions of a Shy Bachelor, page 133:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gave someone what for | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| gives someone what for | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| given someone what for | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| giving someone what for | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Synonyms
slate · objurgate · give it to someone · lace into · reprove · blast · get at · read somebody the riot act · chew out · slam · teach someone a lesson · tear into · rubbish · condemn · keelhaul · derogate · lash · find fault · berate · nail someone to the wall · upbraid · rebuke · have someone's head · savage · give what for · fulminate · chasten · light into · cannonade · give what for · charge · give someone what for · berisp · lambaste · gruel · reprimand · scorch · rate · castigate · get down · chastise · vituperate · pooh-pooh · chastise · penance · reprehend · bash · denunciate · lay into · criticize · denounce · scold · animadvert · threap · tar out · amerce · reproach · drag · slash · malavogue · give somebody a piece of one's mind · have someone's guts for garters · chide · blame · give somebody what-for · correct · dispraise · castigate · give someone a piece of one's mind · penalize · tell off · eat someone alive · let someone have it · dress down · get up · tilt · tan someone's hide · vilify · tosh · give it to someone · excoriate · skewer · admonish · put someone on blast · censure · punish · come down on · fix someone's wagon · lecture · bawl out · deprecate · have someone's hide · rip into · inveigh · tick off
Translations (5)
cs dát někomu na frak (to punish or rebuke) · cs natrhnout někomu sako (to punish or rebuke) · cs dát někomu co proto (to punish or rebuke) · pl ochrzanić (to punish or rebuke) · pl ochrzaniać (to punish or rebuke)