Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

tan someone's hide en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

By metaphor from tannery: beating hides (to condition them), tanning them (with dyes and chemicals), and so on.

Meanings

  1. (figuratively, idiomatic) To beat or spank someone, usually on their backside.
    • "You lying little snipe," he roared. ". . . I've a mind to tan your hide good." 1908, Stewart Edward White, chapter 12, in The Adventures of Bobby Orde:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
tanned someone's hide Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
tanned someone's hide Tense=Past lexicographic
tans someone's hide Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
tanning someone's hide Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

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