rip someone's head off: meaning & examples

Open in app

Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    United StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaCanadainformalcolloquial
    • To reprimand, scold, or attack someone verbally in a sudden, angry, and aggressive manner.
    • To react to someone with excessive anger or hostility, often disproportionate to the provocation.

    Examples

    Beta

    • When I accidentally broke the vase, Mom ripped my head off in front of all our guests.

      When I accidentally broke the vase, Mom angrily scolded me in front of all our guests.

    • You’d better watch your attitude or the boss will rip your head off during the review.

      You should watch your attitude or the boss will harshly reprimand you during the review.

    • After missing the deadline, she was ripped a new one—her supervisor really ripped her head off.

      After missing the deadline, she was severely reprimanded—her supervisor angrily scolded her.

  • 2.

    Generalfigurativehyperbolic
    • Used hyperbolically to mean behaving in a violently aggressive or destructive way toward someone or something; not meant literally.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The boxer ripped his opponent’s head off with a series of brutal punches, not holding back at all.

      The boxer attacked his opponent violently with a series of brutal punches, not holding back.

    • He was so furious he felt like he could rip someone’s head off just by glaring at them.

      He was so angry he felt like he could act violently aggressive toward someone just by glaring.

    • The critic ripped the movie’s plot to shreds, almost ripping its head off in his harsh review.

      The critic severely criticized the movie’s plot, almost behaving with violent verbal aggression in his harsh review.

  • 3.

    Generalliteralneutral
    • To decapitate someone; to remove a person's head from their body (rarely used outside literal descriptions of physical violence).

    Examples

    Beta

    • The horror film opened with a scene where the villain literally ripped someone’s head off.

      The horror film opened with a scene where the villain physically removed someone’s head.

    • In the graphic comic, the monster ripped the hero’s head off during the climactic battle.

      In the graphic comic, the monster decapitated the hero during the climactic battle.

    • The legend tells of a warrior who ripped his enemy’s head off in a fierce duel.

      The legend tells of a warrior who physically removed his enemy’s head in a fierce duel.

Examples:

  • EN: Boobs make me want to rip someone's head off.
    HI: उड़ा देती है होश मेरे तीर किसी की।
  • EN: I mean, like, way worse than I've already said-- but I know that it's not okay to rip someone's head off and jump down their throat just because you disagree on a diagnosis.
    ID: Jauh lebih buruk daripada yang sudah kukatakan. Namun, aku tahu dilarang melindas orang yang sudah tertimpa tangga hanya karena tidak setuju dengan diagnosisnya.
  • EN: He is ready to rip someone's head off.
    TE: అతను ఎవరైనా తల ఆఫ్ కూల్చివేసి సిద్ధంగా ఉంది వంటి అతను ధ్వని లేదు?
  • EN: Just rip someone's head off on this one.
    ES: La próxima vez arráncale la cabeza a alguien.
  • EN: And Shane, Shane will rip someone's head off.
    ES: Y Shane, Shane le arrancará la cabeza a alguien.
  • EN: I'll rip someone's head off!
    ES: ¡Le voy a arrancar la cabeza a alguno!
  • EN: Because if you don't... I'll have Jackson rip someone's head off right in the middle of the field and drench everyone you love and care about in blood.
    ES: Porque si no lo haces... haré que Jackson le arranque la cabeza a alguien en medio del campo y empape a todos los que quieres y te importan de sangre.
    ID: Karena kalau tidak, akan kusuruh Jackson memenggal kepala seseorang ... di tengah lapangan dan membunuh semua orang yang kau sayangi.
  • EN: That means I literally can't stop feeding until I rip someone's head off, but look at us.
    ES: Que no puedo parar de alimentarme hasta que le arranco la cabeza a alguien, pero míranos.
    ID: Itu berarti aku benar-benar tidak bisa berhenti menghisap sampai aku membuat kepala seseorang lepas, tapi lihatlah kita.
  • EN: But I know that it's not okay to rip someone's head off and jump down their throat just because you disagree on a diagnosis.
    ES: Pero sé que no está bien arrancarle la cabeza a alguien y saltarle al cuello solo porque no estés de acuerdo con un diagnóstico.
  • EN: You look ready to rip someone's head off.
    ES: Parece que pudieras arrancarle la cabeza a alguien.

Related Idioms

Validation Count: 0

Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

rip someone's head off | Idiomator