snap someone's head off

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

snap someone's head off (third-person singular simple present snaps someone's head off, present participle snapping someone's head off, simple past and past participle snapped someone's head off)

1. (idiomatic) To suddenly and sharply rebuke or insult a person, especially in response to a harmless remark.
   • 1915, Kathleen Norris, chapter 5, in The Story of Julia Page:

     "Pa's awfully cranky," Mrs. Cox said resignedly. "He's always been that way! You cook him corn beef hash—that's the night he wanted pork chops; never give someone corn beef hash when he wants pork chops sometimes he'll snap your head off if you speak."

   • 1918, Kate Douglas Wiggin, chapter 8, in The Story Of Waitstill Baxter:

     He won't have a pleasant morning, I can tell you! I shall snap his head off every time he speaks to me.

Synonyms

• bite someone's head off