tell off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong
Why “off”? Words or impressions come off a source and reach other people.
“His mum told him off.”
“The teacher told us off for shouting.”
Don't confuse with
Tell off means speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong. Tell on means inform on someone, especially to a person in authority.
Test yourself
“His mum told him off.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
tell on
A contrast learners often mix up
Inform on someone, especially to a person in authority
bite off
Same off pattern: release
Remove a piece of something by biting it; Take on more than you can handle ("bite off more than you can chew"); Speak sharply and curtly
come off
Same off pattern: release
Become detached from something; Happen successfully as planned; Stop taking a medicine or substance; Give a particular impression to others; Be withdrawn from sale or service
read off
Same off pattern: release
Read aloud from a list or screen
reel off
Same off pattern: release
Recite a long list quickly and easily from memory
show off
Same off pattern: release
Display something to impress others
sound off
Same off pattern: release
Express opinions loudly and at length, especially complaints
tell apart
Same base verb: tell
See the difference between similar people or things
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