tell off

Meaning

Verb

• To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish, often in a harsh, angry, direct way.
• To count (members of a sequence), to enumerate.
• To allocate duties to someone.
• To divide and practise a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises.

Origin

• From the military order: "number" - when starting with the first soldier, each would number himself out loud, counting in sequence file by file and rank by rank.