wigging

Wigging is an informal noun meaning a beating or thrashing, and it can also refer to a severe telling-off or reprimand. In British English, a person who has done something wrong may be said to have received, been given, or gotten a wigging, with the severity of the reprimand often implied by the surrounding wording. The expression can describe both physical punishment and vigorous verbal criticism. Although it occurs in American English as well, it is much more associated with British informal usage and has a somewhat old-fashioned tone. Compared with neutral terms such as “reprimand” or “criticism,” “wigging” conveys stronger disapproval and, in some contexts, the threat or reality of punishment.

A beating or thrashing; by extension, a severe telling-off. The word is chiefly informal and especially associated with British English.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does wigging come from?

The word “wigging” derives from the verb “wig,” meaning to beat or chastise, which is attested in British English and related to the sense of striking someone with a wig or similar flexible object. By the nineteenth century, “wig” was also used figuratively for a severe reprimand. The resulting noun “wigging” developed in the context of beating and later came to denote a telling-off.

How wigging is actually used

Chiefly informal and traditionally British. It may refer literally to a physical beating or figuratively to a sharp verbal reprimand; its use can suggest severity or displeasure.

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Rhymes with wigging