dressing-down

[ dres-ing-doun ]

/ ˈdrɛs ɪŋˈdaʊn /

a severe reprimand; scolding.

Origin of dressing-down

1860–65, Americanism; noun use (with -ing¹) of verb phrase dress down

Coming out again, the grim and forbidding doctor ordered Jimmie into his car, and oh, what a dressing-down he did give him!

Jimmie Higgins |Upton Sinclair
Furthermore, she had given Mike the Angel a dressing-down that had been quite impressive.

Unwise Child |Gordon Randall Garrett
Perhaps you gave her such a dressing-down, Billie, that shes turned over a new leaf.

The Motor Maids' School Days |Katherine Stokes
That fellow I gave a dressing-down about India to up at the Pratts' there.

A Crooked Mile |Oliver Onions

"Deeper'n the Whale-deep," said Dan, with a wink, as he set the gear for dressing-down.

"Captains Courageous" |Rudyard Kipling

dressing-down

informal a severe scolding or thrashing