the rough side of one's tongue

Noun

 * 1) Angry words, harsh criticism.
 * 2) * 1876,, “Charles of Orleans,” Chapter 4, in Familiar Studies of Men and Books, 1882,
 * Louis was then in no humour to hear Charles’s texts and Latin sentiments; he had his back to the wall, the future of France was at stake; and if all the old men in the world had crossed his path, they would have had the rough side of his tongue like Charles of Orleans.
 * 1) * 1876,, “Charles of Orleans,” Chapter 4, in Familiar Studies of Men and Books, 1882,
 * Louis was then in no humour to hear Charles’s texts and Latin sentiments; he had his back to the wall, the future of France was at stake; and if all the old men in the world had crossed his path, they would have had the rough side of his tongue like Charles of Orleans.

Usage notes
A variant of this expression is a lick with the rough side of one's tongue.
 * 1857,, , “Mr. Gilfil’s Love Story,” Chapter1,
 * he contributed an additional zest to the conviviality on that occasion by informing the company that ‘the parson had given the squire a lick with the rough side of his tongue.’
 * he contributed an additional zest to the conviviality on that occasion by informing the company that ‘the parson had given the squire a lick with the rough side of his tongue.’