give someone what-for

verb

To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.

“He really gave the kid what-for about the baseball through his window.”

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Meanings

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

present singular third person gives someone what-for · participle present giving someone what-for · past gave someone what-for · participle past given someone what-for

  1. idiomaticTo admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.

    He really gave the kid what-for about the baseball through his window.

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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