ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rap someone's knuckles

idiom
Meaning

to give someone a punishment.


Examples
SIMPLE

The boss will rap your knuckles if you are late again.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager had to rap the intern's knuckles for leaving the office door unlocked overnight.

COMPLEX

Although the committee members were generally supportive, they felt compelled to rap the director's knuckles for his lack of transparency regarding the budget.

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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