skin somebody alive

skin (one) alive

To upbraid, scold, or punish one severely and with intense anger. My parents will skin us alive if they find out we took the car without telling them. If I find out who messed up the Jefferson account, I'll skin him alive!

See also: alive, skin

skin somebody aˈlive

(used as a threat or warning) punish somebody very severely: Your mother would skin you alive if she knew you’d started smoking!

See also: alive, skin, somebody