dress-down

[ dres-doun ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or being a policy that allows employees to dress less formally than usual:

   dress-down days during the summer.

dress down

verb

1. informal.
   tr to reprimand severely or scold (a person)
2. intr to dress in a casual or informal manner, esp at work

Word History and Origins

Origin of dress-down¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

At the time, Blackman said he wold give a yellow card and a public dressing down to any candidate who attacked a rival during the campaign.

From BBC

Boehly entered the dressing room to give a public dressing down to the squad following the defeat by Brighton.

From BBC

Bob Blackman, who as chair of the Conservative 1922 committee will oversee the race, said he will give a yellow card and a public dressing down to any candidate who attacks a rival.

From BBC

But the squabble didn’t boil over until April 30, when Mr. Lamar released “Euphoria,” a six-and-a-half minute dressing down of the “Nice for What” rapper.

From New York Times

“We were so dressed down — there was nothing that would scream ‘money,’” she said.

From Los Angeles Times