1. A severe reprimand
   "The manager gave the team a bollocking after their poor performance";
   - rollicking [Brit, informal], rollocking [Brit, informal]

1. Censure severely or angrily
   "The deputy bollocked the Prime Minister";
   - call on the carpet [US, informal], take to task, rebuke, rag [informal], trounce, lecture, reprimand, jaw [informal], dress down [informal], call down [informal], scold, chide, berate, bawl out [informal], chew out [N. Amer, informal], chew up [N. Amer, informal], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer, informal], wig [Brit, informal], carpet [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: bollockings

Type of: criticise [Brit], criticize, damn [informal], knock [informal], pick apart

Encyclopedia: Bollocking