| Verb | 1. | call on the carpet - censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup"chew out, chew up, chide, dress down, have words, bawl out, berate, rebuke, reproof, scold, reprimand, call down, lambast, lambaste, lecture, remonstrate, trounce, jaw, rag criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free" | |