I now went into an earnest expostulation with him upon the extravagant length of his report. 接着我就开始苦口婆心地劝导他,说他写的报告过分冗长。
expostulation
[ noun ]
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
<noun.communication>
an exclamation of protest or remonstrance or reproof
<noun.communication>
Expostulation \Ex*pos`tu*la"tion\, n. [L. expostulatio.] The act of expostulating or reasoning with a person in opposition to some impropriety of conduct; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest; dissuasion.