Scolding or criticizing someone angrily and at length; giving someone a severe verbal attack for their actions or behavior.
From 'be-' (intensive prefix) + 'rate' meaning 'to scold.' The word 'rate' in this sense comes from Old French 'rater' meaning 'to blame or accuse,' creating the idea of intensively blaming someone.
Think 'BE-RATING' - you're rating someone very badly, giving them zero stars! Or imagine a teacher 'rating' a student's behavior so harshly that it becomes a long, angry lecture.
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