give someone a ticking-off—(coll.) scold or reprimand a person:
- The referee gave Mike a ticking-off. Not that he cared.
tick someone off—
1. put a mark by smb.’s name on a list:
- I ask each kid one question, ticking them off as they answer.
2. mark smb. as a potential object for vengeance or hostility:
- If anyone starts fault-finding he is immediately “ticked off.”
3. = give someone a ticking-off:
- He was “ticked off ” by one of the boys for leaving his car unlocked and complete with ignition key.
4. (U.S. sl.) annoy or anger a person:
- It ticks me off when I have to study and somebody makes noise.