having someone's head

Verb

have someone's head (third-person singular simple present has someone's head, present participle having someone's head, simple past and past participle had someone's head)

1. (figuratively, idiomatic) To punish someone severely, as by sacking (firing), imprisonment, or similarly harsh penalties.
   • The boss will have his head for losing the biggest customer over a mistake.

   Synonyms:

   have someone's guts for garters, have someone's hide, tan someone's hide, amerce, castigate, chasten, chastise, come down on, correct, fix someone's wagon

2. (literal) To kill somebody, especially with violence and especially by decapitation.
   • The tyrant would have their heads for their temerity.