# give someone an earful

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/give-someone-an-earful
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To scold someone loudly.

## Examples

- My boss gave me an earful for being late again.
- When I accidentally broke her favorite vase, my mother gave me an earful about being more careful.
- After the team lost the championship due to his careless mistake, the coach gave him an earful that echoed throughout the entire locker room.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.