dressing-down

American  

[dres-ing-doun] / ˈdrɛs ɪŋˈdaʊn /

noun

1. a severe reprimand; scolding.

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dressing-down British  

noun

1. informal a severe scolding or thrashing

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Etymology

Origin of dressing-down

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

Example Sentences

His famous dressing-down of his senior staff, actual quiet professionals, should be considered at some length:

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Some of those present left unhappy with the message and what they took as a dressing-down, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

In a recent dressing-down of Bezos in the Atlantic, former Post executive editor Martin Baron, once a fan, wrote: “Now we know Bezos is no Katharine Graham.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

“He says, ‘You’re not welcome here,’” Ms. Pollini said, crying as she recalled the intensity of his dressing-down.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

I even had one hazy fantasy where Miss Geraldine herself heard about it and gave Ruth a complete dressing-down in front of everyone.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro