Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dressing-down

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.16 in modern English

Syllables: dress-ing--down
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A reprimand or rarely, a thrashing.

Example Sentences

""I'll give him a dressing down, see if I don't." Mrs. Mudge's eyes snapped viciously, and she clutched the relics of the broom with a degree of energy which rendered it uncertain what sort of a dressing down she intended for her husband."
"When the blacksmith saw what Babo had done to his mother, he caught him by the collar, and fell to giving him such a dressing down as never man had before."
""We must all bow to you, and try to get a favorable word, must we? This man shall have a leg up, and this man shall have a dressing down!""
"Just ask Gen. Yevgeny I. Ignatov, a former mayor of Torzhok, who stepped down two years ago after a dressing-down from the regional governor."

Inflected Forms

dressing-downs (plural) dressings-down (plural) dressing down (alternative)

Phrases

dress down

Frequently Paired Words

dress down

Synonyms

handbagging stricture hiding going over animadversion criticism criticization critique dressing-down slam ass beating ass kicking

Questions

What does dressing-down mean?: A reprimand or rarely, a thrashing.

How to pronounce dressing-down

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