gave someone what for

A form of give someone what for — To punish; to rebuke.

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Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of give someone what for
Cite this entry
APA

gave someone what for. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20someone%20what%20for

MLA

“gave someone what for.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20someone%20what%20for. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gave someone what for,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20someone%20what%20for.

Source: gave someone what for on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.