| call on the carpet | (v) censure severely or angrily, Syn. rebuke, rag, lambaste, dress down, call down, take to task, scold, chew out, remonstrate, chide, berate, lambast, lecture, trounce, jaw, reproof, bawl out, chew up, have words, reprimand, Example: The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car; The deputy ragged the Prime Minister; The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup |