have someone's head

English

Verb

have someone's head (third-person singular simple present has someone's head, present participle having someone's head, simple past and past participle had someone's head)

1. (idiomatic, figurative) To punish someone severely, as by sacking (firing), imprisonment, or similarly harsh penalties.

   Synonyms: have someone's guts for garters, have someone's hide, tan someone's hide

   The boss will have his head for losing the biggest customer over a mistake.

2. (literal) To kill somebody, especially with violence and especially by decapitation.

   The tyrant would have their heads for their temerity.

Related terms

• heads will roll
• off with someone's head

 

See also

• have someone's back (nearly antonymous)

 

References

• “have someone's head”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.