hand someone their head
To destroy; to defeat utterly.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The champion will hand his opponent his head in the ring today.”
“The experienced lawyer will hand you your head during the trial.”
“The grandmaster hands his students their heads in every chess match.”
“If you walk into that meeting unprepared, the manager will surely hand you your head.”
“Our local team played so poorly that the visiting champions handed them their heads before the first half even finished.”
“If you try to argue with her about physics, she will hand you your head because she has a doctorate in the subject.”
“The seasoned politician anticipated a difficult debate, yet he was unprepared for his rival to hand him his head so thoroughly before the entire assembly.”
disputed origin
The expression is possibly an allusion to the biblical account of Salome, who requested the head of John the Baptist be delivered to her on a charger. The story attributes the origin to this specific demand for a physical decapitation, though the link remains a matter of unsettled speculation rather than historical certainty.
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
back of one's hand
A display of disrespect or scorn.
- 03
bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
- 04
bang some heads together
Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.
- 05
bash someone's head
To beat up someone violently.
- 06
bear a hand
To make haste; to help quickly.
- 07
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 08
big hand
Synonym of minute hand (on a clock face).
Last updated August 10, 2026