haul somebody over the coals
English
Verb
- (idiomatic) To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
- The teacher hauled him over the coals for not doing his homework.
Synonyms
- give somebody a dressing down
- give somebody a telling off
- read somebody the riot act
- tell somebody off
- tear a strip off somebody
- tear someone a new one
- tear someone a new asshole