give one a piece of one's mind

give one a piece of one's mind {v. phr.}, {informal}

To scold angrily; say what you really think to (someone).

Mr. Allen gave the other driver a piece of his mind.

The sergeant gave the soldier a piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots.

Syn.: TELL OFF.

Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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mind

[mind] See: [CROSS ONE'S MIND] or [PASS THROUGH ONE'S MIND], [GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND], [HALF A MIND], [IN MIND], [IN ONE'S MIND'S EYE], [MAKE UP ONE'S MIND], [NEVER […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

give it to

[give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat. * /The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./ Syn.: [LET HAVE IT]. 2. […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

piece

[piece] See: [BY THE PIECE], [CONVERSATION PIECE], [GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND], [GO TO PIECES], [OF A PIECE], [PIECE OF CAKE], [SAY ONE'S PIECE] or [SPEAK ONE'S PIECE], [TO […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

tell a thing or two

[tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard work, his father told him a thing […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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