coating

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A telling-off; a reprimand.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The bogey gave him a right coating.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “coating” mean?

A telling-off; a reprimand.

Is “coating” formal or informal?

coating is generally slang.