tell off

British  

verb

1. informal to reprimand; scold

   they told me off for stealing apples

2. to count and dismiss

   he told off four more soldiers

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tell off Idioms  

1. Rebuke severely, reprimand, as in It's time someone told her off about her behavior. There is also a synonymous expression, tell someone where to get off, as in When he called back a third time, I told him where to get off. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see get off, def. 7.

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Other Word Forms

• telling off
  noun

Example Sentences

Tell off the watch, and send the crew to supper.

From The Ruined Cities of Zululand by Walmsley, Hugh Mulleneux

Tell off a party to bring in the C.O.,

From The First Hundred Thousand by Hay, Ian

"Tell off the battalion," said Colonel Dearman in his natural voice and an unnaturally crestfallen manner.

From Driftwood Spars The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life by Wren, Percival Christopher

Tell off six men, with orders to jump down into their boats as soon as they can, and to push them off, so as to cut off their retreat.

From At Aboukir and Acre A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Tell off six men from each battalion to accompany me, and take charge of the carts.

From Under Wellington's Command A Tale of the Peninsular War by Paget, Walter