take someone's head off

English

take someone's head off (third-person singular simple present takes someone's head off, present participle taking someone's head off, simple past took someone's head off, past participle taken someone's head off)

(idiomatic, informal) To berate.
- 1998, Beverley Harper, Edge of the Rain:
  Pat's Irish but don't hold it against him— he's likely to take your head off.'
- 2009, Heidi Betts, Loves Me, Loves Me Knot: A Funny Sexy Yarn, page 190:
  She should take his head off for that last remark, but darned if she didn't find him adorable instead.
- 2012, David Weber, Midst Toil and Tribulation:
  He didn't think the captain would take his head off if he laughed, but he wasn't positive.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take off,‎ head.
- 1900, L. F. Baum, The Wizard of Oz:
  "That's fine," said the Scarecrow, and you are welcome to take my head off, as long as it becomes better when you put it back."
- 2007, Joe Layden, The Last Great Fight:
  "When James hit him with that uppercut, they were right in our corner." recalled Russell. “And I swear to God, I thought [James] was going to take Tyson's head off.”