have one's ears pinned back
The phrase "have one's ears pinned back" is an idiomatic expression often used in American English to describe severe reprimand or decisive defeat.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1General
(informal, idiomatic)To be severely scolded or reprimanded.
Example
- After missing the deadline, she had her ears pinned back by her boss.
C1Sports
(informal, idiomatic)To be decisively defeated in a competition.
Example
- The home team had their ears pinned back in the final match, losing by a wide margin.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "have one's ears pinned back":
bend someone's earprick upall earshave one's head readdonkey's ears