scold Definition
- 1to criticize or reprimand someone angrily
- 2to find fault with someone
Using scold: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "scold" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
My mother used to scold me for not doing my homework.
Example
The teacher scolded the students for being late.
Example
He was scolded by his boss for being unprofessional.
Example
She scolded her husband for forgetting their anniversary.
scold Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using scold
Example
When he came home late, his wife gave him a scolding.
Example
He took a scolding from his boss for not meeting the deadline.
Example
She scolded like a fishwife when she found out that her son had failed his exam.
Phrases with scold
Example
I know I'm late, so scold away.
scold's bridle
a metal frame that fits into the mouth and over the head of a person, used as a punishment for nagging or gossiping
Example
In the old days, women who gossiped were punished by being made to wear a scold's bridle.
scold's tongue
a sharp-tongued or nagging woman
Example
She was known as a scold's tongue because she was always criticizing others.
Origins of scold
from Old Norse 'skald', meaning 'poet'
Summary: scold in Brief
The verb 'scold' [skoʊld] means to criticize or reprimand someone angrily, often finding fault with them. It can be used in various contexts, such as parents scolding their children for misbehaving or bosses scolding their employees for not meeting deadlines. The phrase 'scold away' invites someone to criticize or reprimand you, while the idioms 'give someone a scolding' and 'take a scolding' refer to the act of criticizing or receiving criticism.
