be rough on (someone)
idiom
: to punish or criticize (someone) harshly
Don't be so rough on them for making a mistake.
Examples of be rough on (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Use Soft Fabrics Only Unsurprisingly, certain fabrics can be rough on hair, leading to frizz and breakage (which leads to more frizz).
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
It Faster Than Ever Use Soft Fabrics Only Unsurprisingly, certain fabrics can be rough on hair, leading to frizz and breakage (which leads to more frizz).
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
Goaltenders put on a show The All-Star weekend is supposed to be rough on goalies, but there were outstanding performances.
—Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024
To buy: Kindle Paperwhite Kids 16GB Bundle $110 (was $170)
Kids can be rough on things, and Amazon knows this.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 10 Oct. 2023
A little more detail: For many adults, jumping right back into jumping can be rough on the joints.
—Greg Presto, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022
Summer can be rough on your body: faces burned by the sun, forearms scraped by rough climbs, throats parched from dehydration, chlorine drying your hair, ocean salt stinging your eyes.
—Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2023
Kids can be rough on their headphones and have a tendency to twist or even bite the cables.
—Fiona Tapp, CNN Underscored, 24 Nov. 2020
Winter means hard times for deer, rabbits and other animals — and that can be rough on your garden plants.
—Jim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 3 Oct. 2020
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.
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
It Faster Than Ever Use Soft Fabrics Only Unsurprisingly, certain fabrics can be rough on hair, leading to frizz and breakage (which leads to more frizz).
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
Goaltenders put on a show The All-Star weekend is supposed to be rough on goalies, but there were outstanding performances.
—Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024
To buy: Kindle Paperwhite Kids 16GB Bundle $110 (was $170)
Kids can be rough on things, and Amazon knows this.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 10 Oct. 2023
A little more detail: For many adults, jumping right back into jumping can be rough on the joints.
—Greg Presto, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022
Summer can be rough on your body: faces burned by the sun, forearms scraped by rough climbs, throats parched from dehydration, chlorine drying your hair, ocean salt stinging your eyes.
—Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2023
Kids can be rough on their headphones and have a tendency to twist or even bite the cables.
—Fiona Tapp, CNN Underscored, 24 Nov. 2020
Winter means hard times for deer, rabbits and other animals — and that can be rough on your garden plants.
—Jim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 3 Oct. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near be rough on (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Be rough on (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20rough%20on%20%28someone%29. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share