- To scold, reprimand, or lecture someone angrily, harshly, and often at length.
Explanation
Origin
- Believed to be American military slang, possibly from WWII or earlier.
- The imagery is visceral, suggesting verbally chewing someone up or tearing them apart with angry words.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Tell someone off.
- Lay into someone. / Tear into someone.
- Give someone hell. / Give someone grief.
- Bawl someone out.
- Ream someone out. / Ream someone a new one. (Vulgar)
- Dress someone down.
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Rip someone a new asshole. / Tear someone a new one. (Extremely vulgar/severe scolding)
- Give someone a bollocking. / Bollock someone. (UK/Aus, vulgar)
- Bitch someone out. (Vulgar, implies nagging/shrill anger)
Milder/More Formal:
- Reprimand someone.
- Admonish someone.
- Take someone to task.
- Express strong disapproval to someone.
- Censure someone. (Formal condemnation)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal slang. Describes an angry reprimand, typically in a hierarchical relationship (boss-employee, parent-child, coach-player, military superior-subordinate).
- While the act might happen in various settings, using the *term* chew out is informal. Describing a formal reprimand this way would understate its formality.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The meaning is generally clear (angry scolding). Learners should recognise the intensity and anger implied.
Examples
- The sergeant chewed the private out for having dirty boots.
- My boss chewed me out for missing the deadline.
- She got thoroughly chewed out by her parents for lying.
Dialogue
Mark: Why were you late this morning? You look stressed.
Dave: I got stuck in traffic, and Mr. Henderson absolutely chewed me out in front of everyone when I finally got in.
Mark: Oof, Henderson can be brutal. Sorry man, that sucks.
Dave: Yeah, it wasn't pleasant.
Social Media Examples
- Relatable post: Anyone else ever get chewed out by their GPS voice for missing a turn? Just me? 😂 #GPS #funny
- Work vent (anonymous/casual): Got chewed out today for something that wasn't even my fault. Gotta love Mondays. #worklife #rant
- Parenting humor: Pretty sure the dog chewed me out in barks for being late with his dinner. 🐶 #doglife
Response Patterns
- From the person chewed out: Typically passive acceptance during the event (silence, looking down), followed by feeling upset, resentful, apologetic, or defensive afterward. Possible responses include I'm sorry, It won't happen again, or making excuses.
- From someone hearing about it: Sympathy (Ouch, that sounds rough.), curiosity (Wow, what did you do?), agreement if the fault was clear (Well, you kinda deserved it.), or criticism of the person doing the chewing out (That seems excessive.).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- The person who was chewed out might complain about the harshness later.
- The person doing the chewing out might impose further consequences or monitor behavior closely.
- Observers might discuss the incident, taking sides or commenting on the situation.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a specific (usually past) event of being scolded.
Intonation
- The phrase itself describes an angry interaction, so when recounting it, the tone might reflect that anger or the speaker's reaction (e.g., sounding upset, annoyed, or even slightly amused in retrospect).
- Stress on CHEWED and OUT. He got CHEWED OUT.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across most adult generations. It might sound slightly dated to some very young people, but the meaning is generally known.
Regional Variations
- Primarily North American slang (US, Canada). It's understood in the UK, Aus, NZ, but they might more commonly use telling off, bollocking (vulgar), rollicking (strong reprimand), or having a go at someone.