call on the carpet

call on the carpet (third-person singular simple present calls on the carpet, present participle calling on the carpet, simple past and past participle called on the carpet)

1. (chiefly US) To reprimand; to censure severely or angrily.
   • 1984 August 4, Sue Hyde, “Too Little, Too Late”, in Gay Community News, page 2:

     Randal calls onto the carpet Heath and Human Services Secretary Margaret Heckler for her department's negligence in responding to the AIDS crisis.

• on the carpet

• trip to the woodshed