the rough side of one's tongue en · NOUN
Meanings
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(uncountable) Angry words, harsh criticism.
1876, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Charles of Orleans,” Chapter 4, in Familiar Studies of Men and Books, 1882, […] Louis was then in no humour to hear Charles’s texts and Latin sentiments; he had his back to the wall, the future of France was at stake; and if all the old men in the world had crossed his path, they would have had the rough side of his tongue like Charles of Orleans.
But let them, if they plague thee long, Once feel the rough side of thy tongue:
1797, Thomas Bridges, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 4th edition, London: G.G. and J. Robinson, Book 6, p. 354:“[…] It’s going to add to my difficulties to take any girl on the trip. If you pile too much on me the flight may be a failure, and we’ll all be sorry then.” “She gave you a bit of the rough side of her tongue, I suppose?”
1940, Nevil Shute, chapter 3, in An Old Captivity, New York: William Morrow:[…] let us not be moved by the rough side of a shepherd lass’s tongue.
1924, George Bernard Shaw, Saint Joan, New York: Dodd, Mead, published 1946, Scene 6, p. 110:
Synonyms
tongue-lashing · piece of one's mind · telling off · reprimand · rebuke