Phrase guide

hairdryer treatment

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

a confrontation where someone stands very close to a subordinate and lambasts them very loudly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2013, John Prescott, Ed Miliband is Labour's Alex Ferguson and he needs to give any slacking ministers the hairdryer treatment, in Mirror online, 20 Aug 2013, If Shadow Cabinet members aren’t pulling their weight, give them the hairdryer treatment and kick ’em out.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From hairdryer + treatment (the image being of shouting at someone so close to their face that your hot breath could dry their hair).