kick the stuffing out of

kick the stuffing out of (one)

1. To physically attack one, as with punches and other blows, such that they suffer significant injury. Likened to the cotton stuffing of a toy being knocked out by the intensity of the blows. Our neighbor is in the hospital after a mugger kicked the stuffing out of him. He's going to kick the stuffing out of you if he finds out that you and his girlfriend have been hooking up behind his back.

2. To dominate one utterly in a contest or competition. The final score was 17–1? Wow, we really kicked the stuffing out of that team! I was doing pretty well for most of the tournament, but my opponent in the semifinals kicked the stuffing out of me.

3. To cause one to feel extremely demoralized, despondent, or dejected. Boy, that performance review really kicked the stuffing out of me—I just feel like I can't do anything right anymore. The boss could tell that the week had kicked the stuffing out of us, so he treated us all to pizza and beer after work on Friday.

See also: kick, of, out, stuffing

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

kick the (natural) stuffing out of someone

 and beat the (natural) stuffing out of someone; take the stuffing out of someone; knock the starch out of someone; knock the stuffing out of someone

Rur. to kick or beat someone severely. Last time I was in a fight with Joe, he kicked the natural stuffing out of me. You do that again and I'll kick the stuffing out of you. Bill threatened to beat the natural stuffing out of any no-'count rascal who laid a hand on his sister.

See also: kick, of, out, stuffing

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.