rap (redirected from rapping over the knuckles)

beat the rap

Sl. to evade conviction and punishment (for a crime). He was charged with drunk driving, but he beat the rap. The police hauled Tom in and charged him with a crime. His lawyer helped him beat the rap.

See also: beat

get one's knuckles rapped 

1. Lit. to get one's knuckles struck with a ruler as a punishment. I got my knuckles rapped for whispering too much. You will have your knuckles rapped if you are not careful.

2. Fig. to receive a minor punishment. The lawyer got his knuckles rapped for talking back to the judge. Better watch your tongue if you don't want to get your knuckles rapped.

See also: get, knuckle

rap someone across the knuckles and rap someone on the knuckles; rap someone's knuckles

to strike someone on the knuckles. As punishment, she rapped him across the knuckles. The teacher rapped the student on the knuckles.

See also: across, knuckle

rap something out (on something)

to tap out the rhythm of something on something. Try to rap the rhythm out on the table. He rapped out the rhythm on the table.

See also: out

rap at something and rap on something

to tap on something to attract someone's attention. Who is that rapping at my door? Someone is rapping at the window, trying to get my attention. I will rap on her window and try to wake her.

rap with someone

Sl. to have a chat with someone or a group of people. (Old.) Come in, sit down, and rap with me for a while. Let's get together and rap with one another sometime.

take the rap (for something)

Inf. to take the blame for (doing) something. I won't take the rap for the crime. I wasn't even in town. Who'll take the rap for it? Who did it?

See also: take

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a bum rap  (American informal)

blame or punishment that is not fair Teachers are getting a bum rap from people who say they don't work hard enough. She was sent up to the penitentiary on a bum rap.

See also: bum

a rap across/on/over the knuckles

a punishment which is not very severe but which warns you not to behave that way again The company received a rap over the knuckles from the Food and Drug Administration. Her remarks earned her a sharp rap across the knuckles from the Prime Minister.

See also: across, knuckle

a rap sheet  (American informal)

information kept by the police about someone's criminal activities The gunman's rap sheet had a long list of weapons and narcotics offenses.

See also: sheet

beat the rap  (American informal)

to escape being punished There's no way he can beat the rap now. No lawyer can save him.

See also: beat

take the rap

to be blamed or punished for something bad that has happened, especially when it is not your fault (often + for ) I'm not going to take the rap for someone else's mistakes.

See beat the rap

See also: take

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beat the rap

to avoid being punished People think that if you have enough money and high-priced lawyers, you can generally beat the rap.

Related vocabulary: get off (scot-free)

See also: beat

take the rap (for something)

to be blamed or punished unfairly for something you have not done Reublinger has often taken the rap for bad decisions made by his boss.

See also: take