Ronin stiffened, like the verbal slap had stung his courage back to life.

I respect your intelligence enough," said Father, "that I think a verbal slap teaches you better than a physical one.

Actresses have tried the line different ways: as a sarcastic question, a flat dismissal, a verbal slap.

Feeling his words like a verbal slap, Maddie clenched her teeth to keep in a scream.

Basically, she gave Bonds a verbal slap in the face.

Lesley tensed at the verbal slap, then mentally reminded herself what the Stovers were going through.

Dana's verbal slap hurt more than that punch to the face.

The verbal slap seemed to have the effect Gold had sought.

It was almost a verbal slap.

His words were a verbal slap.