Criticism: English Vocabulary List

a sharp expression of one's disapproval or criticism of someone as a result of their action or behavior

"I sent him away with a flea in his ear."

"The angry mother sent her son away with a flea in his ear after he lied about where he had been all night."

to make an attempt to achieve or do something

"I want to have a go at painting."

"I have never tried snowboarding before but I would like to have a go this winter."

to angrily warn or threaten someone so that they will not make the same mistake

"Mom read me the riot act."

"The boss read him the riot act after the project failed."

to severely criticize someone because of their mistake

"They raked him over the coals."

"The boss raked the new employee over the coals for making such a terrible mistake."

to subject someone to severe criticism

"They dragged him over the coals."

"The teacher dragged the student over the coals for not completing his homework on time."

to violently criticize or punish a person over what they did or said

"The boss let him have it."

"After he broke the expensive vase, his mother really let him have it with a long, angry lecture."

to violently or forcefully hit a person or thing many times

"He will whale on him."

"The angry boxer began to whale on his opponent with a series of powerful punches to the head."

(of criticisms or warnings) failing to have any effect on a person

"His criticism is water off a duck's back."

"All the criticism from the newspapers was water off a duck's back to the politician who ignored it completely."

likely to receive much criticism

"He was on the firing line."

"The manager was in the firing line after the company lost millions of dollars last quarter."

to experience the effects or consequences of actions, often from others

"He was on the receiving end today."

"She was on the receiving end of harsh criticism from her boss after the project failed unexpectedly."

used to refer to the act of doing something with a lot of energy and excitement

"They were in full cry."

"The children were in full cry, chasing each other around the park with pure joy."

to demotivate a person by talking negatively about their plans or opinions

"Don't throw cold water on ideas."

"My boss always throws cold water on my creative proposals during meetings, which makes me feel discouraged and less motivated to share new ideas."

used when someone is criticizing another for a fault that they have as well

"That's the pot calling the kettle black."

"When he accused me of being lazy that was the pot calling the kettle black because he never does any work either."

to experience a significant loss, failure, or setback in a particular situation

"Our team took a beating yesterday."

"The company's stock took a beating after the disappointing earnings report was released to the public."

to criticize someone severely because of what they said or did

"They will have a go."

"The disgruntled customers decided to have a go at the company for its poor service and misleading advertising."

to strongly criticize someone or something for something bad that has happened

"They will whale on it."

"The critics will likely whale on the new film due to its predictable plot and uninspired performances."

to face strong negative feedback or verbal abuse

"He will take a beating."

"The small business owner was bracing himself to take a beating from angry investors after the significant financial losses."