slap down

Related to slap down: slap on the back

slap down

To restrain, inhibit, or suppress someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slap" and "down." The manager has been slapping down any member of staff with dissenting opinions. Once the military assumed control of the government, it began slapping down all rebel activity with lethal force. You've slapped every one of my suggestions down, so I don't know what else you want me to say.
See also: down, slap
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

slap someone down

 
1. Lit. to cause someone to fall by striking with the open hand. she became enraged and slapped him down when he approached her again. Liz slapped down the insulting wretch.
2. Fig. to squelch someone; to rebuke or rebuff someone. I had a great idea, but the boss slapped me down. Don't slap down people without hearing what they have to say.
See also: down, slap

slap something down

to strike downward with something flat in one's hand. she slapped the dollar bill down in great anger and took her paper cup full of water away with her. Karen slapped down the money that the bailiff demanded.
See also: down, slap
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

slap down

Restrain or correct emphatically, as in They thought he was getting far too arrogant and needed to be slapped down. This idiom, which literally means "inflict a physical blow," began to be used figuratively in the first half of the 1900s.
See also: down, slap
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

slap down

v.
1. To restrain or correct someone with a sharp blow or forceful censure: The soldier slapped me down for talking back. The judge slapped down the defendant for speaking out of turn.
2. To put a sudden end to something; suppress something: We must slap this behavior down before it gets out of control. The school slapped down roughhousing on the playground after a child had been hurt.
See also: down, slap
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • bear down
  • ask down
  • call down
  • clean down
  • chow down
  • chow something down
  • clunk
  • clunk down
  • brush down
  • button down
References in periodicals archive
As a storm erupted over the leak, embarrassed Prime Minister John Major was forced to slap down his own deputy.
Tories target nine million
THE DUP has asked Britain if it should "slap down" the Tanaiste over claims the Government is undermining confidence among unionists.
Paisley plea to slap down the Tanaiste
Luton want pounds 3m and Boothroyd is ready to slap down a fresh bid after having a pounds 1.5m offer snubbed in the summer.
Football: Aidy eyes new Car
Theresa May has won the backing of the 1922 Committee if she wants to slap down rogue ministers, it emerged last night.
Cabinet at war after meeting details leaked
Luton want pounds 2m and Boothroyd is ready to slap down a fresh bid after having a pounds 1m offer snubbed in the summer.
Football: Aidy eyes new Car
Furious John Prescott is set to slap down Labour Party chairman Charles Clarke because his allies are claiming he will take over as Deputy PM when Mr Prescott retires.
BATTLE OF BRUISERS
Lord Justice Leveson faced accusations of "judicial arrogance" for calling on Downing Street to slap down Education Secretary Michael Gove after he made an impassioned defence of free speech.
MPS' ATTACK ON LEVESON BID TO MUZZLE MINISTER; 'Arrogant' inquiry chief rapped
Walsh said: "We argued the slap down the shoulder was corrective and for safety.
WALSH LOSES APPEAL
And Wenger has also been forced to slap down both Andrey Arshavin and Emmanuel Adebayor this month for publicly urging him to buy more players.
SHUT UP! Wenger's end of season message to the fans, the players, the board..and himself.
If I practised six hours a day in the full knowledge that once I got to the table there was nothing my opponent could do to baulk me, that no hairy-arsed joiner would slap down 10p on the corner and say 'I'm on next', and that no-one on an adjoining table would ask to borrow the rest while I'm lining up another black, I'd be sinking 147s like I sink 1664s.
SPORTS BETTING: Ronnie O'Sullivan's maximum 147 break
But he appeared to slap down Europe Minister Peter Hain for blurting out May 1, 2003 as the likely date for a referendum - as predicted in The Mirror last month.
Straw: Case for euro won