If you give someone the rough side of your tongue or the rough edge of your tongue, you speak angrily to them about something that they have done wrong. He's really going to give the boy the rough side of his tongue. Note: You can also say that someone gets the rough side or edge of your tongue or feels the rough side or edge of your tongue. As Archer watched the others walk away, he knew he was going to get the rough edge of his father's tongue. They felt the rough edge of their captain's tongue when things went wrong.