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skin alive

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skin someone alive

Fig. to be very angry with someone; to scold someone severely. (Fig. on being angry enough to do this kind of bodily harm to someone.) I was so mad at Jane that I could have skinned her alive. If I don't get home on time, my parents will skin me alive.

See also: alive, skin

skin somebody alive

to punish someone very severely Sharon will skin me alive if I'm late.

See nearly jump out of skin, save skin

See also: alive, skin

skin alive

Punish severely, as in If I find the guy who slashed my tire I'll skin him alive. This hyperbolic expression transfers the barbaric practice of flaying a live prisoner to other forms of punishment. [Colloquial mid-1800s]

See also: alive, skin