Definify.com

Definition 2024


tear_a_strip_off

tear a strip off someone

English

Alternative forms

  • tear strips off someone

Verb

tear a strip off someone

  1. (idiomatic) To scold vigorously.
    • 1952, New Zealand Parliament, Parliamentary Debates, Volume 295, page 116,
      Last night the honourable member for Miramar was going to tear a strip off the Minister of Works; [] .
    • 2012, Kimberley Rose Dawson, Carousel: The Relapse: Spinning Out of Control, page 260,
      But before Debra went out the door behind her she proceeded to tear a strip off both Miguel and Anna Maria.
      Miguel ended up phoning Liz at home and tearing a strip off her for telling Debra to tell him off.
    • 2013, Lorraine Bateman, Paul Cole, Blue Days and Fair, page 211,
      No doubt Mother tore a strip off him last night. She will never forgive him for turning away a suitor.

Synonyms

Translations