Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

bollocking

British  
/ ˈbɒləkɪŋ /

noun

  1. slang a severe telling-off; dressing-down

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bollocking

from bollock (vb) (in the sense: to reprimand)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Also because lots of my scenes with Phil are me giving him a bollocking or getting really angry with him.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 9, 2026

Ford was a hero of mine, and I got such great instruction from him, which he sort of made more of a bollocking than anything else.

From New York Times Nov. 9, 2022

“When he stopped, she gave him a bollocking about Cuban food.”

From The New Yorker Sep. 18, 2019

He told the Treasury select committee he delivered a "bollocking" to the bank at its board meeting in February.

From The Guardian Jul. 16, 2012

The characters are worried about getting a bollocking from Malcolm Tucker, or they’re worried about losing their job, or they’re just trying to get through the day without being fired.

From Slate Apr. 20, 2012

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training