by the nape of (one's)/its/the neck
by the nape of (one's)/its/the neck
By the back of the neck (of a person or animal). My mom was so mad that she grabbed me by the nape of the neck and hauled me into my room to be grounded. I had to yank the cat out from under the floorboards by the nape of its neck. The boss took John by the nape of his neck and warned him never to do something so foolish again.
See also: by, nape, neck, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
by the nape of the neck
by the back of the neck. (Mostly said in threats.) He grabbed me by the nape of the neck and told me not to turn around if I valued my life. I stood very still. If you do that again, I'll pick you up by the nape of the neck and throw you out the door.
See also: by, nape, neck, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- by the nape of the neck
- nape
- by the scruff of (one's)/its/the neck
- by the scruff of somebody's/the neck
- scruff
- neck and neck
- stick one's neck out, to
- take the checkered flag
- take the chequered flag
- by a hair