passer un savon

to give someone a dressing-down

→ passer
phrase Rare #46,293
to give someone a dressing-down An informal idiom meaning to scold or reprimand someone severely. It is used with à: passer un savon à quelqu'un.
FR: Ma mère m'a passé un savon hier soir.
EN: My mother gave me a dressing-down last night.