Tommy called Sarah names until she started to cry.

[angliholic]

Tommy called Sarah names until she started to cry.


Does the above amount to the following in meaning? Thanks.

Tommy scolded Sarah until she started to cry.

[baqarah131]

Usually scold means to tell someone they've done something wrong, in a harsh, negative way.

Calling names would be applying labels.
Among my young sons, the favorite insult was "You're a girl!" That's name-calling.
When I was seven, my girlfriend called my "Crummy." That's name-calling.

"Don't talk on the phone when you're driving your car, you moron!" This sentence contains both scolding and name-calling.

I hope you see the difference now.
edward

Originally Posted by angliholic

Tommy called Sarah names until she started to cry.




Does the above amount to the following in meaning? Thanks.

Tommy scolded Sarah until she started to cry.

[angliholic]

Originally Posted by baqarah131

Usually scold means to tell someone they've done something wrong, in a harsh, negative way.

Calling names would be applying labels.
Among my young sons, the favorite insult was "You're a girl!" That's name-calling.
When I was seven, my girlfriend called my "Crummy." That's name-calling.

"Don't talk on the phone when you're driving your car, you moron!" This sentence contains both scolding and name-calling.

I hope you see the difference now.
edward

Thanks, Edward, for the crystal clear illustrations.

By the way, is "crummy" the adjective form of "crumb?"

[baqarah131]

Crummy means unattractive, uninteresting, socially awkward.
Re the source, I had to look it up. thefreedictionary.com says "probably from crumb." It's often spelled crumby.

Originally Posted by angliholic

Thanks, Edward, for the crystal clear illustrations.

By the way, is "crummy" the adjective form of "crumb?"

[angliholic]

Thanks, Edward.
Roger!