tell off

verb

1. informal,  to reprimand; scold

   they told me off for stealing apples

2. to count and dismiss

   he told off four more soldiers

Other Word Forms

• telling off noun

Idioms and Phrases

Rebuke severely, reprimand, as in It's time someone told her off about her behavior. There is also a synonymous expression, tell someone where to get off, as in When he called back a third time, I told him where to get off. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see get off, def. 7.