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noun

earful

EER-fuhl
noun
1
A sharp scolding or telling-off.
"He got an earful from his boss for missing the deadline."
2
A large amount of gossip or news heard all at once.
"She gave me an earful about what happened at the party."

How to Use Earful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a stern telling-off, or a big dose of gossip poured out to you.

When to use it

Informal.

Common pairings
give someone an earful get an earful

Word Forms

earfuls plural, earsful plural

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He got an _____ from his boss for missing the deadline.

Rhymes for earful

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial