settle someone's hash

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settle (someone's) hash (third-person singular simple present settles someone's hash, present participle settling someone's hash, simple past and past participle settled someone's hash)

1. (idiomatic) To physically or verbally subdue someone.
   • 1851, S. G. Warren, Ten Thousand a Year, Jesper Harding, page 344,

     Wait and see old Caleb Quirk get into the box. I'll settle his hash in half a minute.

   • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 13

     “But wait till I light on you, no matter where it is, I’ll settle your hash for a bit, yer little swine!”

   • 2004 July 8–14, "Devious Rabbit Tricks Bush Into Signing Gun Ban", The Onion, available in Embedded in America, →ISBN, page 202,

     "Sez Pezziden' Bush, sezee, 'I'm gwine ter settle yo' hash, ole Rabbit....'"

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