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Dress down

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SeverityPlay
Used to convey strong disapproval, often in professional settings or authority figures. SlideThe supervisor dressed down an assistant for not following guidelines.
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Power DynamicsPlay
Indicates a power imbalance, where one person has authority over another. SlideDuring the meeting, the manager dressed down the junior staff member.
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Not LiteralPlay
Does not involve changing clothes; it's metaphorical for a verbal reprimand. SlideEven though the phrase suggests attire, when the coach dressed down the player, it involved no actual clothes.