Crossword Genius

Tell about bitter rebuke (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scolding

'rebuke' is the definition.
(scolding is a kind of rebuke)

'tell about bitter' is the wordplay.
'tell' becomes 'sing' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'bitter' becomes 'cold' ('cold' can be similar in meaning to 'bitter'**).
'sing' placed around 'cold' is 'SCOLDING'.

(Other definitions for scolding that I've seen before include "lecture" , "telling-off" , "Rebuking, berating" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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