tell off

British  

verb

1. informal to reprimand; scold

   they told me off for stealing apples

2. to count and dismiss

   he told off four more soldiers

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tell off Idioms  

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• telling off
  noun

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tell off

There are stories about him calling all-staff meetings to tell off individuals who had made mistakes.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

When it comes to failing to self-isolate or practise social distancing, surely everyone feels free to tell off members of their family.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 23, 2020

Righteous, single-minded and unafraid to tell off the highest members of British government when they demonstrate more political calculation than valor, Diana has a demigod’s certainty and a total immunity to embarrassment.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2017

At the pool, he and his co-worker, Blómey Karlsdóttir, alternated explaining the sauna drama and opening the office door to tell off the two boys misbehaving in the pool.

From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2016

The tapping grows insistent, and I turn, intending to tell off the Cadet.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

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