tell off
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tell off
verb tells off · telling off · told off
- To number off (a group of soldiers); to divide up (soldiers) in this way. To equalize a battalion is to tell off a certain number of companies, usually eight, in such a manner that the several component parts shall consist of the same number of men.
- To assign (someone) to a particular task, duty etc.; to depute, to allocate. The provisions were packed over night and sent down by boat, in charge of the steward of the Gtdnare or some person specially told off for the purpose.
- To count off (numbers, members of a sequence etc.); to enumerate. The Recruit looked thoughtful and told off the days on his fingers.
- To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish, often in a harsh, angry, direct way. Joel's boss told him off for being late again.
Similar: give somebody what-for, read somebody the riot act, scold, number
