a rap on/over/across the knuckles
idiom
informal
: criticism or punishment that is given in a gentle way for something that one did wrong
I received a rap on the knuckles for missing the meeting.
Examples of a rap on/over/across the knuckles in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But in religion class that got you a rap on the knuckles.
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Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a rap on/over/across the knuckles.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“A rap on/over/across the knuckles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20rap%20on%2Fover%2Facross%20the%20knuckles. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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