get it in the neck v.
1. (also get it behind the ear, ...in the back, ...collar button) to be punished severely, to suffer badly, to be harshly criticized.
Tough Trip Through Paradise (1977) 66: If anything happened, Beaver Tom was going to get it in the neck first. | ||
News-Courant (Cottonwood Falls, KS) 12 Sept. 2/3: ‘Pistol Johnny got it in the neck, ’n’ his head jest hung on by a strip o’ skin’. | ||
Chimmie Fadden Explains 69: If de owner knowed he’d been blowin off wine on de wrong star he’d get it where de giraffe got de sore troat – in de neck. | ||
Pink ’Un and Pelican 178: This actin’ bloke’s a-going to git it in the neck if I sinks me wad! | ||
Girl Proposition 128: Something tells me that this is another Time when I get it in the Collar-Button. | ||
Pitcher in Paradise 169: The fat and greasy citizens of Belgium [...] are getting it — largely ‘in the neck’, it may be added. | ||
Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 7 Sept. 3/4: Sometimes the bad man gets it in the neck. | ||
Greenmantle (1930) 276: ‘We’ve got it in the neck this time, old man,’ I said to Peter. | ||
Beggars of Life 145: The good guys always get it in the neck. | ||
Carry on, Jeeves 57: I was the lad who was scheduled to get it behind the ear. | ||
Free To Love 26: If you or anybody else expects me to roll by and see Dad get it in the back, you got me wrong. | ||
Dundee Courier 10 Mar. 7/4: Few of them are ready to raise their voices [...] in case they should cop it in the neck for being so bold as to interfere. | ||
Shearer’s Colt 92: If we invite the wrong chappies to Government House, why, yours truly gets it in the neck. | ||
House of Fury (1959) 113: If anyone gets it in the neck it’ll be Mis’ Dulcy, not us. | ||
Jennings Goes To School 176: That form’s going to get it in the neck. | ||
Till Human Voices Wake Us 74: You’ll waste away and die, and they’ll [i.e. prison authorities] get it in the neck as a result. | ||
Brief Authority 191: It’s only when a kaffer’s cheeky he gets it in the neck. | ||
Mad mag. Jan. 30: We’re gonna get it right in the neck! | ||
Close Quarters (1987) 240: All I could think was: the poor seven-six gets it in the neck again. | ||
Streets Above Us (1991) 59: Now we need a body to take a plea. Or we’re going to get it ourselves ... in the neck. | ||
Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 26: And, as ever, the media cop it in the neck. | ||
May God Forgive 42: ‘Hate to say it but you lot are getting it in the neck. Seem to think it’s your fault’. |
2. (orig. US, also get it in the guts) to be killed or badly wounded.
Life (NY) 17 Oct. n.p.: Fellers! De gang has lost its pup! He scrapped wid a bull tarrier an’ got it in de neck. | ||
Sandburrs 11: I’m only Mollie d’ Dope [...] an’ if I gets it in d’ neck it don’t count, see! | ‘Mulberry Mary’ in||
Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 47/1: Mick Curio, ’e gets it in the neck, / ‘Ar rats!’ ’e sez, an’ passes in ’is check. | ‘The Play’ in||
Secret Adversary (1955) 169: But I wish to God I’d been the one to get it in the neck. | ||
Debits and Credits (1926) 166: We copped it. In the neck. | ‘The Janeites’ in||
Mystery Mile (1982) 350: Poor old St. Swithin got it in the neck. | ||
For the Rest of Our Lives 116: You know poor old Mac got it in the guts to-day. They think he’ll pull through all right. | ||
Guardian G2 8 Oct. 18: You were strongly reminded of those primitive Triassic cattle who were about to get it in the neck from the dinosaurs. |