a rap on/over the knucklesCRITICIZE a) informal a punishment or criticism that is not very severe 不十分严厉的惩罚[批评] The New York Post received an official rap over the knuckles for the way it reported the story. 《纽约邮报》因对该事件报道方式不当而受到官方批评。
b) if someone gives a child a rap on the knuckles, they hit them on the back of their hand as a punishment 〔对儿童的〕打手背体罚
a rap on/over the knuckles• Was it going to be a rap on the knuckles for quality?
→ a rap on/over the knuckles at rap1(3)