1. 
[syn: call on the carpet, take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out, chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
call on the carpet
    v 1: 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" [syn: call on the carpet, take to
         task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture,
         reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold,
         chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out,
         chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast]