Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

give someone what for

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.32 in modern English

Syllables
give -some-one what -for
IPA
33
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
4
Syllables
14
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To punish; to rebuke.

Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

From 19th century, as a threatening rebuke to an impertinent (by 19th century standards) question of "what for?". Parent: "Go to your room." Child: "What for?" Parent (angrily): "Disobey me, and I'll give you 'what for'!"

Usage

Inflected Forms

gives someone what for (present, singular) giving someone what for (participle, present) gave someone what for (past) given someone what for (participle, past)

Synonyms

give someone a piece of one's mind let someone have it give it to someone give what for admonish animadvert bash bawl out tilt cannonade slash lash

Questions

What does give someone what for mean?
To punish; to rebuke.
Where does give someone what for come from?
From 19th century, as a threatening rebuke to an impertinent (by 19th century standards) question of "what for?". Parent: "Go to your room." Child: "What for?" Parent (angrily): "Disobey me, and I'll give you 'what for'!"

How to pronounce give someone what for

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