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give someone what for. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
give someone what for, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
give someone what for in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Pronunciation
Verb
give 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)
- (idiomatic, slang) To punish; to rebuke.
2007, Wilbur Smith, The Sound of Thunder, page 135:She gave him what for all right. But you could see she was ever so pleased and she went around telling everybody about it.
- 2002, Joss Whedon, "The Ballad of Jayne Cobb" in "Jaynestown", Firefly.
- He robbed from the rich, and he gave to the poor / Stood up to The Man and he gave him what for.
1912, Edward Burke, Bachelor's Buttons: The Candid Confessions of a Shy Bachelor, page 133:... 'e gived 'em up, an' repented somethin' horrid — there still bein' the buns to come — but Miss Soapy she gave 'im what- for-proper, she did!
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