tell off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong
Why “off”? Words, feelings, impressions, light, heat, or smells leave a source and reach others.
“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; Accept more work or responsibility than you can manage ("bite off more than you can chew"); Speak sharply and curtly
blow off
Same off pattern: release
Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them
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Happen successfully as planned; Stop taking a medicine or substance; Give a particular impression to others; Be withdrawn from sale or service
give off
Same off pattern: release
Produce a smell, light, heat or feeling
go off
Same off pattern: release
Stop working or be cut; Start making a loud warning sound; Become unsafe or unpleasant to eat or drink
pass off
Same off pattern: release
Pretend that something or someone is something else
read off
Same off pattern: release
Read aloud from a list or screen
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