did everything he could 'cept eat us

(one) did everything (one) could 'cept eat (someone)

One treated someone very harshly or severely. "'Cept" is an informal shortening of "except." When Mama found out we had disobeyed her, she was furious and did everything she could 'cept eat us.
See also: could, did, eat, everything
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

did everything he could 'cept eat us

Rur. acted very hostilely. When it came time to pass sentence on the criminal, the judge did everything he could 'cept eat him.
See also: could, did, eat, everything, he
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (one) did everything (one) could 'cept eat (someone)
  • cept
  • prostie
  • prosties
  • stat
  • stats
  • everything
  • reg
  • cig
  • us