What Does "Give Someone What For" Mean?
"Give someone what for" is an English idiom. It means "to scold or reprimand someone harshly or severely."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "give someone what for" used in a sentence:- He knew he was in trouble when his teacher decided to give him what for after his misbehavior in class.
- She decided to give her irresponsible roommate what for when she discovered the mess in their shared living space.
- They had to give their employees what for after discovering a major mistake that could have been avoided.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Give Someone What For" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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