what for

colloquial idiomatic usually with "give someone"

(idiomatic, colloquial, usually with "give someone") An unspecified punishment or rebuke

Japanese Meaning

お仕置き（軽い処罰や叱責の意味） / 叱責（軽く注意する、非公式な懲罰） / 罰（特定されないが何らかの罰を与える意味）

When his parents discovered the party, they gave him a what for.

両親がパーティーを見つけたとき、彼はひどく叱られた。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic, colloquial, usually with "give someone") An unspecified punishment or rebuke

When your dad gets home, he'll give you what for.

what fors

（ plural ）