けんつくを食くわせる

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

give a sharp scolding; angrily reject; snub

Idiomatic expression meaning to scold someone harshly or to reject them in an angry, dismissive manner. Often implies a verbal dressing-down or a sharp refusal.

彼かれは無む理りな要よう求きゅうをけんつくを食くわせて断ことわった。
He angrily rejected the unreasonable demand.
上じょう司し

に

けんつく

を

食く

わ

せ

られ

て

、

しょんぼり

し

た

。

I was given a good scolding by my boss and felt dejected.

Written forms

けんつくを食くわせる
Kana spelling is standard for this idiom; the kanji 食わせる is sometimes used but the whole phrase is often written in kana.
剣けん突つくを食くわせる
Kanji spelling using 剣突; rare and may not be widely recognized.

Kanji

食eat, food
剣sabre, sword, blade
突stab, protruding, thrust

Similar words

叱しかる
叱る is a general verb for scolding or reprimanding, while けんつくを食わせる is a more vivid, idiomatic phrase implying a harsh, angry rebuke or rejection.
拒きょ絶ぜつする
拒絶する means to reject or refuse, but lacks the scolding, angry nuance of けんつくを食わせる.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. けんつく may be related to 剣突 (sword thrust), suggesting a sharp verbal attack, but the exact derivation is unclear.