ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hand someone their head

idiom
Meaning

To destroy; to defeat utterly.


Origin

disputed origin

Possibly an allusion to the story of Salome demanding the head of John the Baptist in a charger.

Examples
SIMPLE

The champion will hand his opponent his head in the ring today.

CONTEXTUAL

If you walk into that meeting unprepared, the manager will surely hand you your head.

COMPLEX

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.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  2. 02

    back of one's hand

    A display of disrespect or scorn.

  3. 03

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  4. 04

    bang some heads together

    Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.

  5. 05

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  6. 06

    bear a hand

    To make haste; to help quickly.

  7. 07

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  8. 08

    big hand

    Synonym of minute hand (on a clock face).

Last updated April 17, 2026