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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have someone's guts for garters en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

By metaphor from the way that humans use animal intestines as catgut for various tensile applications; compare have someone's hide.

Meanings

  1. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic) To reprimand severely.
    • If you go out and play and get your clothes dirty, I'll have your guts for garters!

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
had someone's guts for garters Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had someone's guts for garters Tense=Past lexicographic
has someone's guts for garters Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
having someone's guts for garters Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

nail someone to the wall · give someone what for · have someone's hide · teach someone a lesson · penance · gruel · chastise · punish · castigate · have someone's head · tar out · tan someone's hide · come down on · malavogue · give what for · correct · have someone's guts for garters · give someone what for · chasten · penalize · fix someone's wagon · amerce · have someone's head · give it to someone · nail someone to the wall