knock into a cocked hat
(transitive, chiefly, Britain, colloquial, figuratively) To completely demolish, nullify, overthrow, or otherwise defeat (a person; an argument, idea, or proposition; or a thing).
Definitions
(transitive, chiefly, Britain, colloquial, figuratively) To completely demolish, nullify, overthrow, or otherwise defeat (a person; an argument, idea, or proposition; or a thing).
I jumped up and told Tom a short horse was soon curried, and I'd knock him into a cocked-hat if he said another word. And that broke up the conversation.
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(transitive, originally, US, colloquial, dated) To beat up or seriously injure (a person); to badly damage (a thing).
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