Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

the rough side of one's tongue

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.92 in modern English

Syllables: the rough side of one's -tongue
IPA

36

Scrabble Score

24

Letters

2

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Angry words, harsh criticism.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"But let them, if they plague thee long, Once feel the rough side of thy tongue:"
"1876, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Charles of Orleans,” Chapter 4, in Familiar Studies of Men and Books, 1882, […] Louis was then in no humour to hear Charles’s texts and Latin sentiments; he had his back to the wall, the future of France was at stake; and if all the old men in the world had crossed his path, they would have had the rough side of his tongue like Charles of Orleans."
"[…] let us not be moved by the rough side of a shepherd lass’s tongue."
"“[…] It’s going to add to my difficulties to take any girl on the trip. If you pile too much on me the flight may be a failure, and we’ll all be sorry then.” “She gave you a bit of the rough side of her tongue, I suppose?”"

Usage

Uncountable

Synonyms

piece of one's mind rebuke reprimand telling off tongue-lashing

Questions

What does the rough side of one's tongue mean?: Angry words, harsh criticism.

How to pronounce the rough side of one's tongue

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