tell someone off
/tɛl ˈsʌmwʌn ɒf/
Meaning
This phrasal verb means to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong or behaved badly. It is a casual expression used when reprimanding or scolding someone directly. The tone is confrontational, firm, and expressive of anger or frustration.
Examples
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My neighbor told me off for parking in his driveway.
My neighbor told me off for parking in his driveway.
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I'm going to tell him off if he leaves his dirty dishes in the sink again.
I'm going to tell him off if he leaves his dirty dishes in the sink again.
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The teacher told the students off for talking during the exam.
The teacher told the students off for talking during the exam.
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She finally stood up for herself and told her lazy coworker off.
She finally stood up for herself and told her lazy coworker off.
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He got told off by his boss for arriving late to the client meeting.
He got told off by his boss for arriving late to the client meeting.
Common Mistakes
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✗ My boss told off me.
✓ My boss told me off.
When the object is a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'her', 'them'), it must go between 'tell' and 'off'.
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✗ She told off to her brother.
✓ She told her brother off.
Do not use the preposition 'to' after 'tell off'. The person being scolded is the direct object.
Related Expressions
Practice
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The coach decided to ___ the players for their poor attitude.
💡 scold or reprimand
Show answer
tell off
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If they don't stop making noise, I am going to go over and ___ them ___.
💡 scold them (fill in the verb parts around the pronoun)
Show answer
tell off