X gave Y what for

См. также в других словарях:

• what\ for — I. interrog. For what reason; why? I told Mary what I was going to town for. What are you running for? Often used alone as a question. Billy s mother told him to wear his hat. What for? he asked. Compare: how come II. n. phr. informal A scolding …   Словарь американских идиом

• what for — phrasal 1. for what purpose or reason ; why usually used with the other words of a question between what and for < what did you do that for > except when used alone 2. harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand < gave him what… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• what for — This phrase appears in two nonstandard uses. When it means punishment or reproof (The boss gave George what for because he was late), it constitutes an illiteracy. When what for is substituted for why (What did you do that for?), the expression… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

• what for(2) — {n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or other punishment. Usually used with get or give . * /Tom got what for from his father for answering him rudely, and I heard him crying in the house./ * /The teacher gave me what for because I was late./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

• what for(2) — {n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or other punishment. Usually used with get or give . * /Tom got what for from his father for answering him rudely, and I heard him crying in the house./ * /The teacher gave me what for because I was late./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

• give someone what for — verb To punish; to rebuke. She gave him what for all right. But you could see she was ever so pleased and she went around telling everybody about it. Syn: give someone a piece of ones mind, let someone have it …   Wiktionary

• give what for — verb To scold; to punish, especially verbally. When she found out, she really gave him what for …   Wiktionary

• give them what for — give them a lecture, scold them, give you hell    After the team lost a game, the coach gave em what for …   English idioms

• give somebody what-for — verb To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody. He really gave the kid what for about the baseball through his window …   Wiktionary

• what — /wɒt / (say wot) pronoun (interrogative) 1. (used to ask for the specifying of some impersonal thing): what is your name? what did he do? 2. (used to inquire as to the nature, character, class, origin, etc., of a thing or person): what is that… …  

• what — [hwut, hwät, wut, wät] pron. [ME hwat < OE hwæt, neut. of hwa, who < IE interrogative base * kwo , * kwe > WHERE, WHO, L qui, who what, Lith kàs, what, who] I as an interrogative: which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: used to ask for… …   English World dictionary