The Phrasal Verb 'Tell Off' Explained
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'tell off' from a native speaker, with lots of examples in context
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs where I explain their different meanings to help you understand, learn and use them like a native.
This post is all about the common English phrasal verb 'tell off', which is one that is often reserved exclusively for naughty children (and adults). In the article, I will explain to you how to use it in a natural way, with lots of example sentences in context. In addition, we will also look at the noun that is derived from it so that by the end of the post, you will be an expert in the subject of 'telling off'. So, let's make a start and see the phrasal verb 'tell off' is all about...
QUICK ANSWER: What does the phrasal verb 'tell off' mean?
Keep reading to learn how to use it..... |
I love writing this blog & helping learners but I receive very little feedback as to how useful it is or if people enjoy & learn from it. Therefore, if you find the post useful, please like & share it or leave a comment at the end. I'd be very grateful. Thank you! James 😊 |
THE BASICS
TELL OFF: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 1 |
Past tense forms | Told off / Told off |
Separable? | Yes |
So what do we know about the phrasal verb 'tell off' already? We know that it is formed from the verb 'to tell' and the particle 'off', so as a first step in our exploration of this phrasal verb, let's consider these two individual words....
Tell - 'To tell' is a common irregular verb in English, whose main meaning is 'to give someone information' and when used this way it functions as a synonym of the verb 'to say'. Despite having a very similar meaning, the difference between 'to say' and 'to tell' is a source of confusion for many English learners. There are several differences in usage between but perhaps the most important one to remember is that with the verb 'to tell', we usually need to specify the person who receives the information and we do not need the preposition 'to'.....
Can you tell your father that his breakfast is ready.
James told his partner about what happened last night.
Don't tell me what happens; I don't want to know!
My boss told me a lie.
Kath told her friends to "go away".
The prepositional particle 'off' appears a lot in phrasal verbs and can add a variety of different meanings to them, which can often recur across different phrasal verbs. These include the ideas of separation (break off), departure (set off), stopping (turn off), completion (finish off) and delay (put off), among others.
Interestingly, the 'off' in 'tell off' is not easily recognisable as one of these, so let's continue and see if you can work out why it is used in this phrasal verb....
MEANING 1: To shout at someone for doing something wrong
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere but common in British English |
Potential synonyms | To scold, to reprimand, to admonish |
Separable? | Yes |
Unlike many other common phrasal verbs, the phrasal verb 'tell off' only has one main meaning (hooray I hear you shouting!) and that is 'to shout at someone for doing something wrong'.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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As you have probably guessed, we use the phrasal verb 'tell off' to describe anytime when a person (or animal) breaks a rule, behaves badly or does something that they are not supposed to do and another person shouts angrily at them as a result.
It is almost always used in situations where the angry person who shouts is in a position of authority over the other one e.g. a parent, teacher or boss. As a result, the phrasal verb 'tell off' is most commonly used in reference to naughty children. In fact, I can remember many times as a child when my parents told me off and I am sure you probably can remember your own experiences too!
My boss always tells me off when I'm late.
Natalie tells her children off when they argue.
Teachers shouldn't tell students off in front of the whole class.
The teacher told us off for talking during the lesson.
Mum told me off because I forgot to lock the front door.
If he does it again, I'm going to tell him off.
We commonly use the phrasal verb 'tell off' in the passive voice with the verbs 'to be' and 'to get', with 'get told off' being more common than 'be told off'. This is usually in situations in which the speaker wants to stress the fact that they were in trouble for something and when the angry person is secondary or less relevant information.
I always get told off for leaving my shoes by the front door.
He gets told off whenever he forgets to do his homework.
She's getting told off by her mum for staying out so late.
I walked in just as the children were getting told off.
She's going to get told off when her parents find out.
Arthur always gets told off for stealing food from the kitchen.
I could hear someone being told off in the next room.
Do you remember when we were told off by your parents for hiding the keys?
Children are often told off for interrupting adults.
We were told off for talking during the film.
You should note that while there are other normal verbs that are synonyms of 'tell off', like 'reprimand' and 'scold', 'tell off' is used more much more commonly in British English as well as Australian & NZ English than its one-word synonyms. In North American English however, 'tell off' isn't used quite as frequently and there is more of a balance between how often the verbs are used.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!Can you remember a time when you get told off as a child? What did you do and was it justified? Let me know in the comments or send me a message if you're feeling shy! |
BONUS: THE NOUN 'TELLING-OFF'
As with many common phrasal verbs, 'tell off' has its very own noun that has been derived from it: 'telling-off'. The noun 'tell-off' is the word to describe the action of when one person shouts angrily at another and is more typical in British English. Furthermore, there are also soe specific verbs that are commonly used with this noun....
get a telling-off
receive a telling-off
have a telling-off
give a telling-off
need a telling-off
deserve a telling-off
be in for a telling-off
Strangely, native speakers often add the adjective 'good' before the noun (a good telling-off), not because the action itself is good in the normal sense, but rather to add emphasis or stress.
I got a telling-off from my teacher for talking during the lesson.
He received a telling-off after arriving late for the third time that week.
You're going to get a telling-off if Mum finds out.
The mistake earned him a severe telling-off from the headteacher.
That young boy needs a good telling-off!
We have now reached the end of this post and I hope that you have found it useful and that it has helped you to understand how to use the phrasal verb 'tell off' more confidently and naturally.
Feel free to leave any comments, feedback or your own sentences using 'tell off' in the section below. Also, if you found the post useful, please like and share it on social media.
Do you want to improve your phrasal verb skills?Now that you have read the article, I hope you've learned something new. However, reading is only the first step to mastering phrasal verbs: the key is practice and repetition. That's why I've created a series of PDF workbooks with clear explanations, natural example sentences, exercises, speaking questions and answer keys. This will help you understand and remember common English phrasal verbs and use them confidently in real-life situations. Browse the workbooks here and start improving your phrasal verbs skills today.... |
Thanks so much for reading and see you next time! James 😊
THE END