From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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1999 1994 1993 1991 1980 1971 1912
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- (idiomatic, slang) To punish; to rebuke.
- 2007, Wilbur Smith, The Sound of Thunder, p. 135:
- She gave him what for all right. But you could see she was ever so pleased and she went around telling everybody about it.
- 2002, Joss Whedon, "The Ballad of Jayne Cobb" in "Jaynestown", Firefly.
- He robbed from the rich, and he gave to the poor / Stood up to The Man and he gave him what for.
- 2000, Ngaio Marsh, Photo Finish, p. 187:
- The Sommita threw a violent temperament, gave them what for, kicked them out, and locked the door after them.
- 1999, Emile Zola, Roger Pearson, La Bete Humaine, p. 162:
- And that little upstart had better not be back, or I'll give him what for.
- 1994, Jerry Blunt, Stage Dialects, p. 72:
- He's got the fork, but I'll give him what for if he takes the pipe
- 1993, Xiaoxiaosheng, David Tod Roy, The Plum in the Golden Vase, Or, Chin Pʻing Mei: The Rivals, p. 60:
- "How should I know what transactions were involved?" laughed Tai-an. At this, the woman ran after him and gave him what for with her fists.
- 1991, Julie Garwood, The Bride, p. 239:
- "We gave him what-for, didn't we?
- 1980, Rebecca West, The Thinking Reed, p. 80:
- Though, mind you, Papa sometimes puts his little boy across his knee and gives him what for!
- 1972, Gerald Durrell, Catch Me a Colobus, p. 71:
- Then I took 'is gun away from 'im, and I gave 'im what for. I don't think 'ee'll be 'unting again in an 'urry.'
- 1912, Edward Burke, Bachelor's Buttons: The Candid Confessions of a Shy Bachelor, p. 133:
- ... 'e gived 'em up, an' repented somethin' horrid — there still bein' the buns to come — but Miss Soapy she gave 'im what- for-proper, she did!
