rap across the knuckles

rap across the knuckles

A quick, minor punishment that serves as a warning. The public was outraged that the company only received a rap across the knuckles from the EPA after being caught illegally dumping chemicals in the river.

See also: across, knuckle, rap

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

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

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