be / get called on the carpet AmE informalto be criticized by someone in authority because you have done something wrong〔因做错了事〕被上司叫去训斥:•He was called on the carpet by his boss to explain his excessive spending.他被老板叫去，要他解释为什么会超支。⇒MAGIC CARPET⇒sweep / brush sth under the carpet at SWEEP¹ (15) |