lower the boom

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

lower the boom (third-person singular simple present lowers the boom, present participle lowering the boom, simple past and past participle lowered the boom)

1. (idiomatic) To use one's superior physical strength.
   • 1947, Hy Heath, Johnny Lange, Clancy Lowered the Boom:

     Whenever he got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom.

2. (idiomatic, with "on") To scold severely.

   When Jack came back late from lunch, the team leader really lowered the boom on him.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:clobber

Translations

to scold severely

• German: den Marsch blasen, eine Standpauke halten (de), herunterputzen (de), zur Minna machen (de), einen Anschiss verpassen (colloquial, rough)