snap someone's head off

present singular third person snaps someone's head off · participle present snapping someone's head off · participle past snapped someone's head off · past snapped someone's head off

1. idiomaticTo suddenly and sharply rebuke or insult a person, especially in response to a harmless remark.

   He won't have a pleasant morning, I can tell you! I shall snap his head off every time he speaks to me.

   1918, Kate Douglas Wiggin, chapter 8, in The Story Of Waitstill Baxter

   1 more example

   "Pa's awfully cranky," Mrs. Cox said resignedly. "He's always been that way! You cook him corn beef hash—that's the night he wanted pork chops; never give someone corn beef hash when he wants pork chops sometimes he'll snap your head off if you speak."

   1915, Kathleen Norris, chapter 5, in The Story of Julia Page

   Synonyms: bite someone's head off