Elamur: [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [Parse](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/parse/) · **Dictionary** · [Translate](https://md.translate.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [Research](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [MCP](https://mcp.elamur.ai/) · [Groupants](https://md.groupants.elamur.ai/free/en/)

[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/the-naughty-step/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / the naughty step

# the naughty step

phrase (noun phrase, «the naughty step»; also «the naughty chair», «the naughty corner»)

«the naughty step» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (everyday, UK) a step on the stairs where a young child must sit for a few minutes as a punishment.
2. (humorous) any small punishment for an adult who misbehaves.

### In the lessons

A gentle-sounding name for a punishment used by parents of toddlers in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand; it makes discipline sound mild and almost cosy. Grown-ups use it jokingly for being told off at work or in sport.

### Examples

- (home) If you hit your sister again, it's the naughty step.
- (parent) She sat on the naughty step for three minutes, one for each year of her age.
- (news) The minister was sent to the political naughty step after his rude remark.
- (joke) Dad ate all the biscuits — naughty step for him!
- (TV) The nanny made the naughty step famous.
- (chat) my boss put me on the naughty step for being late lol
- (maths) Two minutes on the step for each year: a 4-year-old sits for 8 minutes.

### Note

Trap: there is nothing naughty about the step itself; it is the child who is naughty. Adults use it as a joke for being in trouble. US parents more often say «time out».