give someone what for

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To punish; to rebuke. idiomatic,slang
    — She gave him what for all right. But you could see she was ever so pleased and she went around telling everybody about it.

词形变化

gives someone what for present,singular,third-person giving someone what for participle,present gave someone what for past given someone what for participle,past

词源

From 19th century, as a threatening rebuke to an impertinent (by 19th century standards) question of "what for?".
Parent: "Go to your room."
Child: "What for?"
Parent (angrily): "Disobey me, and I'll give you 'what for'!"
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