dresses, dressed, dressing
to dress down
phrasal verb
To scold or criticize someone severely
- 1The manager dressed down the employee for being late.
- 2She was dressed down by her parents for breaking curfew.
To dress down means to speak harshly to someone because they did something wrong. It's like getting in trouble or being told off for a mistake. It's a serious scolding that can make someone feel bad about what they did.
Be careful not to confuse "dressing down" with "dressing up." "Dressing down" is about scolding someone, while "dressing up" is about wearing nicer clothes. Remember the difference to avoid misunderstandings.
at a business meeting
The Unexpected Critique
Brian
I can't believe how harshly Mr. Thompson dressed down Mark in front of everyone.
Nancy
Yeah, it was uncomfortable to watch. Mark looked really upset.
Brian
I hope it doesn't affect his performance in the project.
Nancy
Let's try to support him and make sure he knows we're on his side.
at the movie theater
The Unforeseen Reprimand
Brian
I can't believe the manager decided to dress down Mark in front of everyone.
William
Yeah, it was pretty harsh. All he did was spill some popcorn.
Brian
I know, right? It seemed like an overreaction.
William
Hopefully, Mark doesn't take it too hard. He's usually so careful.
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Similar to "to dress down":
- 1reprimand
- 2berate