off with someone's head

English

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off with someone's head

  • /ˈɒf wɪð ˈsʌmwənz ˈhɛd/ UK
  • /ˈɔf wɪθ ˈsʌmwənz ˈhɛd/ US

Where it comes from

From the common use in past times of decapitation as a method of execution for prominent persons.

phrase

  1. humorous, usually Used to express a desire to kill the person in question. Some nerve! Off with their heads! shouted the master of ceremonies with mock ferocity, while the audience laughed.

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Cite this
MLA

"off with someone's head." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/off%20with%20someone's%20head. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

off with someone's head. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/off%20with%20someone's%20head

Chicago

"off with someone's head." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/off%20with%20someone's%20head.

BibTeX
@misc{off_with_someone_s_head_2026,
  title = {off with someone's head},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/off%20with%20someone's%20head},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}