ENGLISH
REFERENCE

have someone's guts for garters

idiom
Meaning

To reprimand severely.


Origin

disputed origin

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

Examples
SIMPLE

If you break that vase, your mother will have your guts for garters.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager warned the team that he would have their guts for garters if they missed the deadline again.

COMPLEX

The stern headmaster promised to have the students' guts for garters should he discover who had vandalized the school library during the night.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  2. 02

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  3. 03

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  4. 04

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  5. 05

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  6. 06

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  7. 07

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  8. 08

    be someone's to lose

    To be anticipated to be won by someone.

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