Close
Sign in
a flea in
one's
ear
/ɐ flˈiː ɪn wˈʌnz ˈɪɹ/
phrase
a sharp expression of one's disapproval or criticism of someone as a result of their action or behavior
Close
Sign in
to have a go
/hæv ɐ ɡˈoʊ/
phrase
to criticize someone severely because of what they said or did
Close
Sign in
to read
sb
the riot act
/ɹˈiːd ˌɛsbˈiː ðə ɹˈaɪət ˈækt/
phrase
to angrily warn or threaten someone so that they will not make the same mistake
Close
Sign in
to rake
sb/sth
over the coals
/ɹˈeɪk ˌɛsbˈiː slˈæʃ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌoʊvɚ ðə kˈoʊlz/
phrase
to severely criticize someone because of their mistake
Close
Sign in
to drag
sb/sth
over the coals
/dɹˈæɡ ˌɛsbˈiː slˈæʃ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌoʊvɚ ðə kˈoʊlz/
phrase
to subject someone to severe criticism
Close
Sign in
let
sb
have it
/lˈɛt ˌɛsbˈiː hˈæv ɪt/
sentence
to violently criticize or punish a person over what they did or said
Close
Sign in
to whale on
sb/sth
/wˈeɪl ˌɑːn ˌɛsbˈiː slˈæʃ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/
phrase
to strongly criticize someone or something for something bad that has happened
Close
Sign in
water off a duck's back
/wˈɔːɾɚɹ ˈɔf ɐ dˈʌks bˈæk/
phrase
(of criticisms or warnings) failing to have any effect on a person
Close
Sign in
in / on the firing line
/ɪn ˌɑːn ðə fˈaɪɚɹɪŋ lˈaɪn/
phrase
likely to receive much criticism
Close
Sign in
be on the receiving end
/ɑːnðə ɹɪsˈiːvɪŋ ˈɛnd/
phrase
to experience the effects or consequences of actions, often from others
Close
Sign in
in full cry
/ɪn fˈʊl kɹˈaɪ/
phrase
used to refer to the act of doing something with a lot of energy and excitement
Close
Sign in
to throw / pour cold water on
sth
/θɹˈoʊ pˈoːɹ kˈoʊld wˈɔːɾɚɹ ˌɑːn ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/
phrase
to demotivate a person by talking negatively about their plans or opinions
Close
Sign in
the pot calling the kettle black
/ðə pˈɑːt kˈɔːlɪŋ ðə kˈɛɾəl blˈæk/
phrase
used when someone is criticizing another for a fault that they have as well
Close
Sign in
to take a beating
/tˈeɪk ɐ bˈiːɾɪŋ/
phrase
to face strong negative feedback or verbal abuse
Great!
You've reviewed all the words in this lesson!
Practice
Upgrade to premium
In order to continue your learning process you must upgrade to the premium plan
Next Lesson
View plans
Back
1. Review
2. Flashcards
4. Quiz