put the boot to (one)

1. Literally, to kick one who has already been knocked down. The thug knocked the man to the ground, then put the boot to him. Poor guy's lucky to be alive!

2. By extension, to thrash or dominate one. The allied troops went up there and put the boot to the dictatorship. The underdogs really put the boot to the returning championships, to the surprise of pretty much everyone.

See also: boot, put, to

See also:

knock (one's) socks off
knock socks off
knock someone's socks off
knock back a drink
stuffing
bring (someone or something) to life
bring somebody/something to life
bring to life
knock away
knock galley-west

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