Give someone the needle
verb phrase
To nag at someone; criticize regularly and smartingly; hassle, needle: The only needle she knows is the one she gives grandpa for stopping off at the bar on his way home (1940s+)
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- Give someone the once-over
verb phrase To examine quickly; glance at, esp with a view to evaluation or identification; check out: That guy in the corner is giving us the once-over/ I gave her papers the once-over and figured she qualified (1915+) Also, give someone the eye. Look or stare at someone with interest. For example, The new coach […]
- Give someone the pink slip
verb phrase To discharge or dismiss; can, fire (1915+)
- Give someone the raspberry
verb phrase To make a noise expressing displeasure or contempt: audience gave her the raspberry for such distasteful jokes
- Give someone the runaround
verb phrase To be deceptive and persistently evasive with someone: Don’t give me the runaround (1924+)
- Give someone the sack
verb phrase To dismiss someone; terminate employment [1825+; origin uncertain; the phrase donner son sac, ”to give him his sack,” has been current in French since the 1600s; sack may be ”traveling bag, bindle”]