British and Irish slang for a severe verbal dressing-down, typically from a superior to a subordinate. Getting a bollocking is considerably worse than a simple reprimand. Widely used in workplaces, the military, and sports contexts; while vulgar in origin, it has a workaday acceptability in informal British speech.
The manager gave him a proper bollocking in front of the entire team after the mistake cost them the match.
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(UK, Ireland, vulgar) A severe reprimand.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.