give someone what-for

== English == === Pronunciation === === Verb === give someone what-for (third-person singular simple present gives someone what-for, present participle giving someone what-for, simple past gave someone what-for, past participle given someone what-for) (idiomatic) To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody. ==== Synonyms ==== See also Thesaurus:criticize === See also === take someone to task tell off