give someone their gruel

verb

To kill or trounce someone.

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Meanings

verbgive someone their gruel (third-person singular simple present gives someone their gruel, present participle giving someone their gruel, simple past gave someone their gruel, past participle given someone their gruel)

present singular third person gives someone their gruel · participle present giving someone their gruel · past gave someone their gruel · participle past given someone their gruel

  1. UKobsoleteslangTo kill or trounce someone.

    "Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!" he cried. "Yes, you gave him his gruel hot enough," answered Charlotte.

    1837, The Gambler's Dream, page 247
    1 more example

    I have 'barkers' by Nock, Sir, With percussion locks, Sir, Will give you your gruel — hang me if I box, Sir

    1856, Thomas Ingoldsby, The Ingoldsby Legends: Or, Mirth & Marvels, page 87

Origin

Perhaps a reference to administering poison.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

give someone their gruel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20gruel

MLA

“give someone their gruel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20gruel. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone their gruel,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20gruel.

Source: give someone their gruel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.