definitions

dressing-down

[ dres-ing-doun ]
/ ˈdrɛs ɪŋˈdaʊn /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dressing-down ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a severe reprimand; scolding.

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RELATED WORDS

reprimand, reproach, tongue-lashing, castigation, chiding, lambasting

Nearby words

dressing gown, dressing room, dressing sack, dressing station, dressing table, dressing-down, dressing-up, dressings, dressler, dressler beat, dressler, marie

Origin of dressing-down

1860–65, Americanism; noun use (with -ing1) of verb phrase dress down
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dressing-down

British Dictionary definitions for dressing-down

dressing-down

noun

informal a severe scolding or thrashing
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