criticizing someone

criticizing someone
People do not usually express criticism strongly unless they know the person they are criticizing well.
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If you want to criticize someone for doing something badly, you can say something like `That's not very good' or `I think that's not quite right'.

What answer have you got? Oh dear. Thirty-three. That's not very good.

I think your answer's wrong.

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A teacher might criticize a pupil's work by saying `You can do better than this'.
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◊ stronger criticism
If you want to criticize someone for doing something wrong or stupid, you can use a question beginning `Why did you...?' or `Why didn't you...?' Questions like this can be used to express great anger or distress, or merely exasperation.

Why did you send him? Why Ben?

Why did you lie to me?

Why did you do it?

Why didn't you tell me?

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You can be more direct and say `You shouldn't have...' or `You should have...'.

You shouldn't have given him money.

You should have asked me.

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Some people say `How could you?' when they feel very strongly that someone has been thoughtless.

How could you? You knew I didn't want anyone to know!

How could you be so stupid?

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◊ very strong criticism
There are other ways of expressing criticism which are even more direct or impolite. If you use expressions like the ones below, you will probably offend the other person.

That's no good.

That won't do.

This is wrong. These are all wrong.

You're hopeless.

`He told me he was going straight to you.' —-`But he didn't.' —-`You liar.'

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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Criticizing someone — People do not usually express criticism strongly unless they know the person they are criticizing well. If you want to criticize someone for doing something badly, you can say something like That s not very good or I think that s not quite right …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Criticizing — People do not usually express criticism strongly unless they know the person they are criticizing well. If you want to criticize someone for doing something badly, you can say something like That s not very good or I think that s not quite right …   Useful english dictionary

  • criticizing — People do not usually express criticism strongly unless they know the person they are criticizing well. If you want to criticize someone for doing something badly, you can say something like That s not very good or I think that s not quite right …   Useful english dictionary

  • on someone's case — on someone’s case spoken phrase criticizing someone all the time She’s always on my case about punctuality. Thesaurus: words used to describe criticismhyponym to criticize, accuse or blamesynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

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  • (a) stick to beat someone with — a stick to beat (someone/something) with British something that gives you an excuse for criticizing someone or something that you do not like or approve of. As far as the opposition are concerned, the slightest hint of scandal is yet another… …   New idioms dictionary

  • give someone a break — 1) informal to stop criticizing someone It s time the national press gave her a break. 2) to do something that helps someone A nurse visits once a week to give Jessica s mother a break …   English dictionary

  • get off someone's case — cvb idi sts get off someone s case, Slang. to stop nagging or criticizing someone …   From formal English to slang

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