bawl out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal
Quick answer
What does “bawl out” mean?
To reprimand or scold someone loudly and severely.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To reprimand or scold someone loudly and severely.
To criticize someone harshly, often in a way that is public, emotional, and involves shouting. It implies a loss of temper on the part of the person doing the scolding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more commonly used in American English. In British English, alternatives like 'tell off' or 'give someone a telling-off' are more frequent in equivalent informal contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a noisy, emotional dressing-down. In American English, it can also imply a formal or official reprimand from a superior (e.g., a sergeant bawling out a private).
Frequency
High frequency in AmE informal speech; medium-to-low frequency in BrE, where it may sound slightly Americanised.
Grammar
How to Use “bawl out” in a Sentence
[Subject] bawled [Object] out[Subject] bawled out [Object] for [gerund/noun phrase][Object] got bawled out by [Subject]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bawl out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The teacher threatened to bawl out anyone who was talking.
- I got properly bawled out for parking in the wrong space.
American English
- The coach bawled out the entire team after the loss.
- She's going to bawl me out when she sees this mess.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal; 'The manager bawled him out for missing the deadline in front of the whole team.'
Academic
Extremely rare; considered too informal and emotional for academic discourse.
Everyday
Common in narratives about conflicts with authority figures, parents, or teachers. 'Mum really bawled me out for coming home so late.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bawl out”
- Using it in formal writing. *'The committee bawled out the proposal.' (Incorrect – use 'rejected' or 'criticized').
- Confusing it with 'ball out' (to leave abruptly) or 'bail out' (to rescue).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'He bawled out his assistant' or 'He bawled his assistant out'.
'Bawl out' strongly emphasizes loud, angry shouting. 'Tell off' is more general for a scolding and is the more common British equivalent; it doesn't necessarily involve shouting.
No, it is used for strong, severe, and loud reprimands. For mild criticism, use 'admonish', 'chide', or simply 'criticize'.
Yes, frequently. The pattern '[Someone] got bawled out' is very common in informal speech.
To reprimand or scold someone loudly and severely.
Bawl out is usually informal in register.
Bawl out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɔːl ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɔːl ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bawl someone out of house and home (different meaning: to eat all someone's food)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a basketball COACH with a BALL (bawl), shouting so loudly his voice echoes OUT of the gym. He's BAWLING OUT a player for a bad pass.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A PRESSUREED FLUID / SHOUTING IS RELEASING PRESSURE. The verb 'bawl' relates to loud crying or shouting, conceptualizing the reprimand as an explosive release of angry energy.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'bawl out' be LEAST appropriate?