taking someone's head off

Verb

take someone's head off (third-person singular simple present takes someone's head off, present participle taking someone's head off, simple past took someone's head off, past participle taken someone's head off)

1. (idiomatic, informal) To 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. 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