give someone their gruel

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.44 in modern English

Syllables: give -some-one their -gru-el
IPA

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To kill or trounce someone.

British usage; Obsolete; Slang

Example Sentences

""Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!" he cried. "Yes, you gave him his gruel hot enough," answered Charlotte."
"I have 'barkers' by Nock, Sir, With percussion locks, Sir, Will give you your gruel — hang me if I box, Sir"

Etymology

Perhaps a reference to administering poison.

Usage

British usage
Obsolete
Slang

Inflected Forms

gives someone their gruel (present, singular) giving someone their gruel (participle, present) gave someone their gruel (past) given someone their gruel (participle, past)

Phrases

cook someone's goose settle someone's hash

Frequently Paired Words

cook someone's goose settle someone's hash

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