If you give someone a talking-to, you speak to them severely, usually about something unacceptable that they have done, in order to show them they were wrong.
[informal]
The team manager said: 'Tony has had a good talking-to and regrets his action'.
Synonyms: reprimand, lecture, rebuke, scolding More Synonyms of talking-to
talking-to in British English
noun
informal
a session of criticism, as of the work or attitude of a subordinate by a person in authority
talking-to in American English
(ˈtɔkɪŋˌtu)
noun
Informal
a rebuke; scolding
Examples of 'talking-to' in a sentence
talking-to
She drove through Swansbury and back to the flat on autopilot, giving herself a stern mental talking-to.