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

(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. Once the we finally apprehended the suspect after a lengthy, dangerous car chase, we did everything we could 'cept eat him. When our teacher saw that someone had thrown a cupcake on to the ceiling during lunchtime, she did everything she could 'cept eat us.

See also: could, did, eat, everything

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.