lower the boom

verb

To use one's superior physical strength.

“When Jack came back late from lunch, the team leader really lowered the boom on him.”

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clobber
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Meanings

verblower the boom (third-person singular simple present lowers the boom, present participle lowering the boom, simple past and past participle lowered the boom)

present singular third person lowers the boom · participle present lowering the boom · participle past lowered the boom · past lowered the boom

  1. idiomaticTo use one's superior physical strength.

    Whenever he got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom.

    1947, Hy Heath, Johnny Lange, Clancy Lowered the Boom
  2. idiomaticTo scold severely.

    When Jack came back late from lunch, the team leader really lowered the boom on him.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
clobber

Translations

German den Marsch blasen, eine Standpauke halten
  • den Marsch blasento scold severely
  • eine Standpauke haltento scold severely
  • herunterputzento scold severely
  • zur Minna machento scold severely
  • einen Anschiss verpassento scold severely
Cite this entry
APA

lower the boom. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20boom

MLA

“lower the boom.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20boom. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lower the boom,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20boom.

Source: lower the boom on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.