chew out

chew  (ch)

v. chewed, chew·ing, chews

v.tr.

1. To bite and grind with the teeth; masticate.

2. To meditate on; ponder: chew a problem over.

v.intr.

1. To make a crushing and grinding motion with the teeth.

2. To cogitate; meditate: chewed on the difficulties ahead.

3. Informal To use chewing tobacco.

n.

1. The act of chewing.

2. Something held in the mouth and chewed, especially a plug of tobacco. See Regional Note at chaw.

Phrasal Verb:

chew out Slang

To reprimand; scold.

Idioms:

chew the cud Slang

To ponder over; meditate.

chew the fat/rag Slang

To talk together in a friendly, leisurely way; chat at length.

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[Middle English cheuen, from Old English cowan.]

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chewa·ble adj.

chewer n.

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

chew out - censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup" call on the carpet, chew up, chide, dress down, have words, bawl out, berate, rebuke, reproof, scold, take to task, call down, lambast, lambaste, lecture, reprimand, remonstrate, trounce, jaw, rag castigate, chasten, chastise, objurgate, correct - censure severely; "She chastised him for his insensitive remarks" brush down, tell off - reprimand; "She told the misbehaving student off" criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free"