a rap on/over/across the knuckles
idiom
informal
: criticism or punishment that is given in a gentle way for something that one did wrong
I received a rap on the knuckles for missing the meeting.
Examples of a rap on/over/across the knuckles in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The overspend was part of a much bigger French government budget deficit in 2023, which has just earned the country a rap on the knuckles from the European Union.
—
Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 July 2024
But in religion class that got you a rap on the knuckles.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 July 2024
But in religion class that got you a rap on the knuckles.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2010
Dictionary Entries Near a rap on/over/across the knuckles
Cite this Entry
“A rap on/over/across the knuckles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20rap%20on%2Fover%2Facross%20the%20knuckles. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share