hang by the neck

hang (someone or oneself) by the neck

To kill someone or oneself by hanging. Around these parts, they hang criminals like you by the neck.
See also: by, hang, neck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hang someone by the neck

to execute someone or kill oneself by tying a noose around the neck and dropping the victim in order to break the neck or strangle the victim. The executioner hanged him by the neck until he died. He hanged himself by the neck.
See also: by, hang, neck
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • hang (someone or oneself) by the neck
  • hang it up
  • hang on a mo
  • hang out with (one)
  • hang a louie
  • hang a ralph
  • hang paper
  • draw and quarter
  • drawn and quartered
  • hang up your fiddle
References in periodicals archive
WB Yeats underwent emergency treatment for car-crash injuries yesterday - but had to hang by the neck while work on his new home was completed.
Yeats back on plinth after crash
'Pirates of the Caribbean did not contain images that suggested it was possible to hang by the neck without consequences.
Film board defends Pirates of Caribbean hanging scene