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Synonyms

talking-to

American  
[taw-king-too] / ˈtɔ kɪŋˌtu /

noun

plural

talking-tos

  1. a scolding.

talking-to British  

noun

  1. informal a session of criticism, as of the work or attitude of a subordinate by a person in authority

"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 talking-to

First recorded in 1875–80

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.

Studio executives continuing to insist on that nonsense deserve Marvel’s first family to give them a disappointed talking-to, and send them to back their boardrooms without supper..

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

A half-time talking-to by Plymouth boss Ian Foster, appointed as Steven Schumacher's successor last month, produced a second-half performance from the home side full of energy and intent, but few chances.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2024

Now banks will get a talking-to from their risk managers and from investors, maybe even at shareholder meetings.

From Scientific American • Mar. 18, 2023

But then, day two rolled around and, suddenly, there were rules and talking-to sit-downs and the like.

From Washington Post • Sep. 20, 2022

One weekend both the grocer and I got a good talking-to, and my account came to a crashing end.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.