Dress down (8)
This could be a double definition.
'dress' is the first definition.
(synonyms)
'down' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for preen that I've seen before include "Groom with great care" , "(Of a bird) tidy and clean feathers" , "Arrange feathers" , "Dress or smooth, feathers say" , "Maintain" .)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">dress down</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(chastising is a kind of dressing down)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for chastise that I've seen before include "Beat" , "Censure severely" , "Berate" , "Scold severely" , "Punished severely" .)