have someone's guts for garters
To reprimand severely.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“If you break that vase, your mother will have your guts for garters.”
“The chef has my guts for garters when I burn the sauce.”
“She has his guts for garters because he lost the car keys.”
“The manager warned the team that he would have their guts for garters if they missed the deadline again.”
“My landlord will have my guts for garters if I keep making this much noise late at night.”
“You should finish your chores before your father gets home, or he will have your guts for garters.”
“The stern headmaster promised to have the students' guts for garters should he discover who had vandalized the school library during the night.”
The expression emerges from the metaphoric application of animal intestines, known as catgut, which are utilised for various tensile purposes. It functions as a graphic threat of corporal disassembly, suggesting the victim’s internal organs might serve as a convenient substitute for hosiery fastenings. The formation parallels the similar idiom to have someone’s hide.
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another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
- 02
answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 03
answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 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.
- 05
bane of someone's existence
Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.
- 06
bash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
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bash someone's head
To beat up someone violently.
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be someone's to lose
To be anticipated to be won by someone.
Last updated August 10, 2026