Meaning of naughty step | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A place, such as a particular step on a staircase or a stool, where a child is sent to sit in silence as a punishment.
   British
2. A state of disgrace, exclusion from a group, or punishment as a result of a misdemeanour.
   British, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“She is still talking to them at length about bringing up children without naughty steps.”

“I use the naughty step technique. Harvey understands that if he throws something he has to pick it up. say sorry and go and sit on the naughty step and count to thirty.”

“I know someone who uses and uses and uses the naughty step and threat of same, so much so that the phrase sets my teeth on edge. Her daughter's not even "naughty" – her mother just doesn't want her to behave like a child, just a mini adult.”

“When I am on the naughty step I can see into the family room. It used to be the kitchen but someone who lived here turned the other room into the kitchen and now the kitchen is the family room. […] I am on the naughty step a lot.”

“Warn once, then follow through with the Naughty Step. […] And yes, you can discipline more than one child at once. I've had triplets on three Naughty Steps. If that's too hard for you, do it one at a time.”

“She [Tanya Byron] implicitly referenced [Jo] Frost’s most infamous Supernanny technique, stating that she was ‘not a fan of naughty steps’ (see Mumsnet, 2007). Her co-clinician on Little Angels (BBC Three, 2004), Stephen Briers, repeated this in his book Superpowers for Parents (2008), promising that ‘you won’t find any naughty steps here’.”

“When David Cameron moved into Downing Street he probably thought that he would only ever banish his children to the naughty step. But a member of the cabinet [Liam Fox] has been placed on the Downing Street naughty step after weeks of bad behaviour which has tested the prime minister's patience to its limits.”

“Two of English rugby's more troublesome individuals – the London Irish full-back Delon Armitage and the former Wasps outside-half Danny Cipriani – found themselves on the naughty step once again yesterday as the union game's reputation, comprehensively battered after recent incidents involving big-name international players, suffered another bruising.”

“Most other players, after such a prolonged spell on the naughty step, would have made ostentatious yardage from their goal, running around, pointing to the name on the back of their shirt, making a gesture to the bench, high-fiving the fans. Not Mario [Balotelli].”

CEFR level