Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
rap someone's knuckles en · VERB
Meanings
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(literally) to tap one's knuckles on an object such as a desk or wall to attract attention or as a signal of commmunication.
Just rap your knuckles on the wall when you're ready to go.
The professor let this go for a moment, then began to rap his knuckles on the podium until the room quieted again.
2012, Michael Kardos, The Three-Day Affair: A Novel, →ISBN, page PT65:
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(dated, idiomatic) to give someone a punishment.
... while political science at Western had received a sharp rap across its knuckles.
2015, James G. Greenlee, “Crazy Quilt”, in McMaster University, Volume 3: 1957-1987: A Chance for Greatness, →ISBN, page 308:If the sales department doesn't get organized soon, the CEO is going to rap their knuckles.
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(archaic, literally) to strike someone on the back of the hand usually as a method of punishment.
In the old days the teacher would rap someone's knuckles with a ruler if they misbehaved in class.
...she commanded, sounding for all the world like a mean old schoolmarm about to rap his knuckles with her ruler.
2011, Lisa Plumley, chapter 7, in Outlaw, →ISBN, page PT45:
Forms