English Expression · Advanced
dress down
scold severely
Pronunciation: /dres daʊn/
Meaning
To criticize or reprimand someone strongly; an informal expression.
Example
The manager dressed him down for arriving late.
The manager dressed him down for arriving late.
Practice tips
- Practice dress down out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for advanced-level learners.