give someone the gears

verb

To scold or criticize someone.

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Meanings

verbgive someone the gears (third-person singular simple present gives someone the gears, present participle giving someone the gears, simple past gave someone the gears, past participle given someone the gears)

present singular third person gives someone the gears · participle present giving someone the gears · past gave someone the gears · participle past given someone the gears

  1. CanadaslangTo scold or criticize someone.

    Then Mr. Melnyk pointed out that we probably wouldn't have electricity. Someone else said she'd take a blanket so she could sleep and stay warm. Then a guy asked if he could share it. Mr. Melnyk gave him the gears […]

    2014, Dianne Linden, Peacekeepers
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“give someone the gears.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20the%20gears. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone the gears,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20the%20gears.

Source: give someone the gears on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.