To tell someone off

Posted by Larry Baruch on March 10, 2004

I was explaining to my French students that although "reprimand" is the correct word, "to tell someone off" is the more usual phrase but then they asked what that meant and where did it come from, and for the life of me I'd no idea, please help.

• To tell someone off ESC 10/March/04
  • To tell someone off Smokey Stover 11/March/04