tell off

speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong

B2

What does "tell sb off" mean?

To tell someone off means to speak angrily to them because they have behaved badly or done something wrong. The person doing the telling off is usually in a position of authority — a teacher, parent, manager, or coach — and their aim is to correct the behaviour, not just to express emotion. It is commonly followed by 'for' and a reason, so you will often hear phrases like 'told off for being late' or 'told off for not following the rules'. The phrase is neutral to informal in tone and is especially frequent in British English, appearing naturally in conversations about school, family life, and the workplace. Unlike simply shouting at someone, telling someone off carries a sense of moral correction — there is a clear message that what the person did was wrong.

Examples

How to use it

tell + object + off + (for + noun/gerund)

The most common pattern, often extended with 'for' to give the reason for the reprimand.

The coach told the players off for arriving late to training.

tell + pronoun + off

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'tell' and 'off' — this separation is not optional.

She had forgotten to submit the report, so her manager told her off.

get told off + (for + noun/gerund)

The passive construction 'get told off' is very natural, especially in spoken English when focusing on the person who was scolded.

He got told off for talking during the presentation.

deserve/need to be told off

Used after verbs like 'deserve' or 'need' to comment on whether someone's behaviour warranted a reprimand.

Honestly, after what they did, they deserved to be told off.

tell + object + off + in front of + place/people

This pattern highlights the public or humiliating aspect of the reprimand.

The supervisor told him off in front of the whole team, which felt unnecessary.

Common Collocations

told off for lyingget told offtold off by the teachertold off by the bosstold off for being latetold off in front of everyone

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun (him, her, them, me), it must go between 'tell' and 'off'. Placing the pronoun after 'off' is ungrammatical.

✗ The teacher told off them for cheating.
✓ The teacher told them off for cheating.
Confusing 'tell off' with 'tell on'

'Tell on someone' means to report their bad behaviour to an authority figure — the subject is the person informing. 'Tell someone off' means to scold them directly — the subject is the authority figure doing the reprimanding.

✗ She told off her brother to their mum when he broke the vase.
✓ She told on her brother to their mum when he broke the vase. / Their mum told her brother off for breaking the vase.
Separating with a long noun phrase

When the object is a long or complex noun phrase, it is more natural to keep 'tell' and 'off' together with the object placed after 'off'. Splitting a long object into the middle sounds awkward.

✗ She told the students who had been ignoring the safety rules off.
✓ She told off the students who had been ignoring the safety rules.

Usage

This phrasal verb is more common in British English than American English. It is neutral in register and works well in both spoken conversation and informal writing, especially in school, family, and workplace contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tell off' more British than American English?

Yes, 'tell off' is particularly associated with British English and is very common in everyday speech there. American English speakers tend to prefer expressions like 'chew out' or simply 'scold'. That said, 'tell off' is widely understood internationally and you will encounter it in global English media and writing.

Do I always need to say what the person was told off for?

No, the 'for' phrase is optional — you can simply say 'the teacher told him off' without explaining the reason. However, adding 'for + a reason' is very natural and common, as it gives the listener useful context. You will often hear patterns like 'told off for being rude' or 'told off for not doing the homework'.

Can 'tell off' be used in the present continuous — for example, 'she is telling him off'?

It is possible if you want to describe something happening at that exact moment, but it sounds a little unusual in practice. 'Tell off' is far more commonly used in the simple past, present perfect, or as a habitual action in the present simple. If you need to describe an ongoing scolding, it is more natural to simply say it in the simple present or past.

Does 'tell off' always involve shouting?

Not necessarily. 'Tell off' focuses on the act of correcting someone's behaviour rather than the volume of the voice. Someone can tell another person off quietly but firmly. If you want to emphasise that someone was shouting, 'shout at' would be a better choice.

Can 'tell off' be used when someone speaks angrily to an equal, or does it need to be an authority figure?

While 'tell off' most naturally fits situations involving authority — a parent, teacher, or manager — it can also be used between equals when one person is clearly in the right and correcting the other's behaviour. The key is that there is a sense of moral correction, not just an argument or outburst.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →