tan someone's hide

English

Etymology

By metaphor from tannery: beating hides (to condition them), tanning them (with dyes and chemicals), and so on.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

tan someone's hide (third-person singular simple present tans someone's hide, present participle tanning someone's hide, simple past and past participle tanned someone's hide)

1. (idiomatic, figurative) To beat or spank someone, usually on their backside.
   • 1908, Stewart Edward White, chapter 12, in The Adventures of Bobby Orde:

     "You lying little snipe," he roared. ". . . I've a mind to tan your hide good."

Synonyms

• have someone's hide