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rap across the knuckles

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rap across the knuckles

A quick, minor punishment that serves as a warning. The public was outraged that the company only received a rap across the knuckles from the EPA after being caught illegally dumping chemicals in the river.

See also: across, knuckle, rap

rap someone across the knuckles

 and rap someone on the knuckles; rap someone's knuckles

to strike someone on the knuckles. As punishment, she rapped him across the knuckles. The teacher rapped the student on the knuckles.

See also: across, knuckle, rap