What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ballyragging
Example
The teacher was ballyragging the students for not completing their assignments. [ballyragging: verb]
Example
She received a ballyragging from her boss for constantly being late to work. [ballyragging: noun]
berate
Example
He berated his employees for their poor performance during the meeting. [berated: verb]
Example
She couldn't handle her mother's constant berating anymore. [berating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Berate is more commonly used than ballyragging in everyday language. Berate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ballyragging is less common and may be more specific to certain dialects or regions.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between ballyragging and berate?
While ballyragging is typically associated with a more informal tone, berate is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.