# give what for

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/give-what-for
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To scold; to punish, especially verbally.

## Examples

- My mother gave me what for when I broke the vase.
- The manager gave the team what for after they missed the important project deadline.
- After discovering the damage to the garden, the neighbor gave the teenagers what for, leaving them in no doubt about the severity of their actions.

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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.