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earwigging

British  
/ ˈɪəˌwɪɡɪŋ /

noun

  1. informal a scolding or harangue

    I'll give him an earwigging about that

"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

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.

“The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mother’s private and sensitive messages … three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick,” Harry wrote.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2023

This warm podcast often feels like earwigging on a conversation between two mates, with recent guests including Search Party’s Alia Shawkat, Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay and Drag Race contestant-turned-comedian Trixie Mattel.

From The Guardian • Jun. 30, 2018

If the tabloids are outraged, well, maybe they shouldn't have been earwigging while the grown-ups were talking.

From The Guardian • Feb. 19, 2013

I can imagine a young ant getting a severe earwigging from one of the major-domos for its stupidity.

From The Naturalist in Nicaragua by Belt, Thomas

"I was in the House of Commons last night, and there I saw the defendant's counsel earwigging the judge."

From Hard Cash by Reade, Charles