take someone's head off
The phrase "take someone's head off" is an idiomatic expression often used in informal contexts to describe intense criticism or anger.
Definition
B2Interpersonal Communication
(idiomatic, informal)To harshly criticize or scold someone.
Example
- She took his head off for being late again.
- There's no need to take my head off; it was just a mistake.
C1Historical
(literal, rare)To decapitate someone.
Example
- The executioner took the prisoner's head off with one swift stroke.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "take someone's head off":
have someone's headblow someone's brains outhand someone his headturn someone's headoff one's headchop offbreak one's neckknock into a cocked hatlose one's headknock the living daylights out ofgo to someone's headblow someone's mindget the chopbite offhack offhead offblow the roof offwipe the floor with someonetell offgo over someone's headsnatch someone's edgesblow out of the watereat someone alivesaw offblow awaybeat the daylights out ofshoot offgob offhave one's head readhead off at the passblow off