talking-to
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Later that year, in a blog post on his personal website, Bosworth recounted a talking-to he had once received from Sheryl Sandberg, the company’s then-head of operations, about his overbearing way of communicating.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
But after a serious talking-to from his corner, Catterall aimed to take the front foot and it paid off as he rocked Prograis with a hammering left.
From BBC • Oct. 26, 2024
The “Oppenheimer” and “Mary Poppins Returns” star gave Gosling a stern talking-to onstage, calling him out for ruining their “The Fall Guy” promotional spot and for embarrassing himself by “Kenning” again.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 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
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.
