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Rap Someone's Knuckles

What Does "Rap Someone's Knuckles" Mean?

homeidiomsRap Someone's Knuckles
"Rap someone's knuckles" is an English idiom. It means "to reprimand or criticize someone for their actions or behavior, often in a mild or indirect manner."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rap someone's knuckles" used in a sentence:
  • The teacher rapped his knuckles for not completing his homework on time.
  • The manager rapped her knuckles for being consistently late to work.
  • Rather than rapping their knuckles, he preferred to offer constructive feedback to his employees.
meaning for rap someone's knuckles

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rap Someone's Knuckles" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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