complain (to someone)
1complain — UK US /kəmˈpleɪn/ verb [I] ► to tell someone that something is wrong or not satisfactory, and that you are annoyed about it: complain about sth »Workers complain about the conditions in which they are forced to work. complain that »The chief… …
2complain — com|plain W3S2 [kəmˈpleın] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere, from Latin com ( COM ) + plangere ( PLAINT)] 1.) [I,T not in passive] to say that you are annoyed, not satisfied, or unhappy about… …
3complain — verb 1 (intransitive, transitive not in passive) to say that you are annoyed, dissatisfied, or unhappy about something or someone: They ve already been given a 10% raise so why are they complaining? | You never ask my opinion about anything, Rod… …
4complain — verb his dogs were always roaming until someone finally complained Syn: protest, grumble, whine, bleat, carp, cavil, grouse, make a fuss; object, speak out, criticize, find fault; informal kick up a fuss, raise a stink, bellyache, moan, snivel,… …
5bend someone's ear — bend someone’s ear informal phrase to talk to someone for a long time, especially in order to complain about something or to discuss a problem Thesaurus: to discuss somethingsynonym to complainsynonym Main entry: bend * * * …
6teach someone a lesson — teach (someone) a lesson To bring home to (someone) his or her folly • • • Main Entry: ↑teach * * * teach someone a lesson informal phrase to punish someone for doing something bad so that they do not do it again She thought he was rude and… …
7go over someone's head — To take a problem, complaint, etc directly to a person more senior than someone • • • Main Entry: ↑head * * * go over someone s head : to discuss something with a person who is higher in rank than someone else He went over his supervisor s head… …
8set someone to work — phrase to make someone do work for you, especially when they do not want to do this Don’t complain that you’re bored, or Dad will set you to work. set someone to work doing something: I’ve set them to work clearing out the garage. Thesaurus: to… …
9go over (someone's) head — 1. to deal with someone at a higher level. I would occasionally go over my manager s head to complain to the top financial officer. 2. to fail to understand something. She was being sarcastic, but he took her seriously the joke totally went over… …
10set someone to work — to make someone do work for you, especially when they do not want to do this Don t complain that you re bored, or Dad will set you to work. set someone to work doing something: I ve set them to work clearing out the garage …
