English
give someone what for
To punish; to rebuke.
Etymology graph
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Origin
From 19th century, as a threatening rebuke to an impertinent (by 19th century standards) question of "what for?".
Parent: "Go to your room."
Child: "What for?"
Parent (angrily): "Disobey me, and I'll give you 'what for'!"
From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Lineage
- derivedEnglish19th
- derived (possibly)EnglishYiddish “Of or pertaining to the Yiddish language.”
- borrowedYiddishייִדיש
- derived (possibly)Englishיאָנץ
- derived (possibly)EnglishYiddish “Of or pertaining to the Yiddish language.”