dressing-down

[dres-ing-doun]

noun

1. a severe reprimand; scolding.

dressing-down

noun

1. informal,  a severe scolding or thrashing

Word History and Origins

Origin of dressing-down¹

1860–65, noun use (with -ing ¹ ) of verb phrase dress down

Example Sentences

“And they have stared in amazement at the improvements that this mysterious process can effect in the credit ratings of the slices…” For his troubles, Grant, along with his trusted assistant, was called into S&P for a dressing-down.

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The tensions were evident at the recent meeting when the issue of officer shootings led to a public dressing-down of the chief.

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These people seem, even, to disgust and emotionally trigger him, as evidenced by his shocking dressing-down of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky when Zelensky visited the White House.

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"The recent dressing-down of Ukraine President Zelensky by President Trump and Vice-President Vance was a glitch on a media stage."

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That public dressing-down was followed this week by Trump pausing all US military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

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