Give someone the shaft
verb phrase
To swindle, maltreat, or otherwise deal punishingly with someone; fuck, shaft: He wasn’t expecting much praise, but he sure didn’t think they’d give him the shaft like that (1940s+)
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- Give someone the shake
verb phrase To rid oneself of someone; get away from someone: He gave the cops the shake a block or so away/ I’ve been expecting Tish to give you the shuck (1940s+)
- Give someone the shakes
verb phrase To instill fear and trembling; intimidate: he’s being paid $5.4 million by the New York Yankees to give opposing batters the shakes [1940s+; the shakes, ”a fit of trembling fear,” is found by 1837]
- Give someone the works
verb phrase To mistreat or beat severely; clobber, WORK someone OVER: They took him into the adjoining room and gave him the works (1920+) Related Terms the works
- Give someone up
verb phrase To turn someone in to the authorities; to betray: gave him up to the cops
- Give someone what for
verb phrase To beat or punish severely; drub either physically or verbally; clobber, LET someone HAVE IT: two or three of us would pitch on him and give him ”what-for” (1873+ British)