chew off

The term "chew off" can describe both a physical action involving biting and an idiomatic expression for reprimanding.

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Definition

B2General

(literal)To remove a part of something by biting and tearing with the teeth.

Example

  • The dog managed to chew off a piece of the toy.
  • The beaver chewed off the branch from the tree.

B2Informal

(idiomatic)To severely reprimand or scold someone.

Example

  • She chewed him off for being late to the meeting.
  • I got chewed off by my boss for missing the deadline.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "chew off":

bite offchew upchew onchomp down onchew overchop offclaw offbite inhack offtear offtake a bite out ofnosh offtake a bitebite one's nailsbite backchuck offchop outbreak offgob offsaw offfeed offbite the big onechew the cudblow offcome offeat away atbite downbite the biscuithook offpick offpeel offfork offhead offbeak offchewing tobaccorip outtoss offchoke offtell offtear awayrip offeat upcut offbite the curbcrack offchop uppull offbite my assflick offbite the dust