strigliata

dressing-down, scolding

noun streel-YAH-tah Rare

Origin: From strigliare (to curry a horse), from striglio (currycomb)

Also means

grooming (of a horse)

Usage Note

Strigliata literally means a stroke of the currycomb on a horse, but in everyday Italian the figurative sense — a sharp reprimand — is far more common: dare una strigliata means to give someone a telling-off. The connection to horses is still felt, giving the word a vivid, physical quality.

Examples

"Il capo gli ha dato una bella strigliata."

Natural Translation

The boss gave him a real dressing-down.

Literal Translation

The boss to-him has given a fine dressing-down.

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