tell off
verb
told off; telling off; tells off
2
: to number and set apart
especially
: to assign to a special duty
told off a detail and put them to opening a trench —
J. F. Dobie
J. F. Dobie Examples of tell off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a viral TikTok video, a golden retriever gets told off for being annoying—his reaction to being scolded melts hearts across social-media users.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
This trend reversed post-inauguration, when the DOR rejected three plates telling off the 45th and 47th president, Donald Trump: FDT, FUDJT and FK4745.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Lombardi had voiced her concerns about the impact of the Blue Angels flying over Seattle in 2023, telling off the squadron in an expletive-laden tirade.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Season three will include toxic men (pretends to be shocked!), Marciano’s story being questioned (clutching my pearls!), and Taylor telling off her mom (wait, actually, yes, please).
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 1 July 2025
Rivera’s sharp sense of style, hanging out and making plans, eating sticky rice and ketchup, telling off old boyfriends and listening to music.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Maybe Simón was a malcontent who told off manager Clayton McCullough.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
One scene, shows another donkey picking up a small goat and running around with it in their mouth, before being told off.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
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Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
This trend reversed post-inauguration, when the DOR rejected three plates telling off the 45th and 47th president, Donald Trump: FDT, FUDJT and FK4745.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Lombardi had voiced her concerns about the impact of the Blue Angels flying over Seattle in 2023, telling off the squadron in an expletive-laden tirade.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Season three will include toxic men (pretends to be shocked!), Marciano’s story being questioned (clutching my pearls!), and Taylor telling off her mom (wait, actually, yes, please).
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 1 July 2025
Rivera’s sharp sense of style, hanging out and making plans, eating sticky rice and ketchup, telling off old boyfriends and listening to music.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Maybe Simón was a malcontent who told off manager Clayton McCullough.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
One scene, shows another donkey picking up a small goat and running around with it in their mouth, before being told off.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tell off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20off. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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