take someone's head off

present singular third person takes someone's head off · participle present taking someone's head off · past took someone's head off · participle past taken someone's head off

1. idiomaticinformalTo berate.

   Pat's Irish but don't hold it against him— he's likely to take your head off.'

   1998, Beverley Harper, Edge of the Rain

   2 more examples

   She should take his head off for that last remark, but darned if she didn't find him adorable instead.

   2009, Heidi Betts, Loves Me, Loves Me Knot: A Funny Sexy Yarn, page 190

   He didn't think the captain would take his head off if he laughed, but he wasn't positive.

   2012, David Weber, Midst Toil and Tribulation

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take off, head.

   "That's fine," said the Scarecrow, and you are welcome to take my head off, as long as it becomes better when you put it back."

   1900, L. F. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

   1 more example

   "When James hit him with that uppercut, they were right in our corner." recalled Russell. “And I swear to God, I thought [James] was going to take Tyson's head off.”

   2007, Joe Layden, The Last Great Fight