tear a strip off someone
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To scold vigorously.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Last night the honourable member for Miramar was going to tear a strip off the Minister of Works;[…].
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 “tear a strip off someone” mean?
To scold vigorously.
Is “tear a strip off someone” formal or informal?
tear a strip off someone is generally slang.