go under the knife

Related to go under the knife: twisting the knife

go under the knife

slang To undergo surgery. My dad is going under the knife on Thursday to try and clear the blockage in his heart.
See also: go, knife
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go under the knife

Fig. to submit to surgery; to have surgery done on oneself. She goes under the knife tomorrow for her gallbladder. Frank lives in constant fear of having to go under the knife.
See also: go, knife
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

go (or be) under the knife

have surgery. informal
See also: go, knife
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go under the ˈknife

(informal) have a medical operation: Peter hates his nose so much that he’s seriously considering going under the knife to have it made smaller.
See also: go, knife
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • cut at
  • cut at (someone or something)
  • cut away at (someone or something)
  • knife
  • pull a knife
  • pull a knife on (one)
  • play a good knife and fork
  • before you can say "knife"
  • before you can say knife
  • like a (hot) knife through butter
References in periodicals archive
US reality TV star Kim Kardashian was chosen as the celebrity the magazine's readers would go under the knife to look like.
But the keeper insists he must then go under the knife to cure his knee injury.
"He was feeling his Achilles, then it was his groin and I think that he felt the best solution was to go under the knife.
And the surgeon - who worked with King of Pop Michael Jackson - insisted it will be easy for stars to go under the knife as some procedures can be done over lunch.
Theron admitted that she wouldn't go under the knife.
The youngest patient to go under the knife was aged just 19.
She's happy to go under the knife to keep looking good, so you won't have to worry that she'll let herself go.
Coincidentally, McLeish - who is adamant Andrews will go under the knife - was McSkimming's boss at Well when he was injured.
"He was feeling his achilles, then it was his groin and I think he felt the best solution was to go under the knife. His groin was operated on and he'll be out until the end of March at least."
The number of men looking to go under the knife has jumped by 20% over the last five years and the Harley Medical Group think this trend will continue despite the recession.
But he landed awkwardly in training which caused further damage to his elbow and must go under the knife to fix the problem.
The England international will go under the knife next week and early indications are that he could be out until the end of October.
Iranians Ladan and Laleh Beijani, who were born with fused skulls, will go under the knife in a potentially lethal operation that is set to last 48 hours at a hospital in Singapore.
London, Sept 2 (ANI): A study has found that most women, who have cosmetic surgery, refuse to believe that it is vanity that motivates them to go under the knife.
The former Italy striker, who underwent surgery on the same right knee last year, missed last night's Serie A match against Milan and could now go under the knife again.