Definition of "talking-to" [talking-to]

• Informal A scolding; a dressing-down. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "And I do think that the use of spanking when less aggressive measures will suffice is worrisome – if a talking-to or time-out would do the trick, why HIT?"
• "You forget to mention, though, that Bill McDonald sweeps in and gives those youngsters a good talking-to."
• "Pretty quick after Grammie gives us the talking-to, Z gets tired of playing."