Hello Victoria, yes, that's correct. Here are a few more examples: He was such a jerk, I couldn't wait to tell him off. I told him off the first chance I got. The worst part about customer service is not being able to tell off rude customers. Hope that helps!

Your example is correct. Here are some more examples. I told him off for leaving the house in a mess. The teacher told the children off for not listening to her. We were told off by the life guard for diving into the swimming pool. "You should tell Dave off for being such a nuisance." "If you don't tell them off, they'll just keep on doing it!"

Yes exactly right Victoria. To tell off means to firmly (possibly angrily) tell someone that what they are doing or have done is wrong /unacceptable behaviour and as your example suggests it would normally be done by someone in authority over the person they are talking to. Unlike many other phrasal verbs "tell off" dos not have multiple meanings - none that I can think of.