catch a Tartar

Idioms  

1. Seek out something or someone that turns out to be unexpectedly unpleasant or formidable, as in Now that she finally agreed to meet with you, you just might find that you've caught a Tartar. In this term, Tartar signifies a difficult or sometimes violent individual, referring to Turkic and Mongolian invaders of Asia in the Middle Ages. [Mid-1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

catch a Tartar

V. be deceived &c 545, be the dupe of; fall into a trap; swallow the bait, nibble at the bait; bite, catch a Tartar.

From Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget

"They may come up," Ralph said, "but they can do us no harm, on the broken ground; and will catch a Tartar, if they don't mind."

From The Young Franc Tireurs And Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War by F. T. Young

To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior strength or abilities.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose

"Lucky you discovered her, boy, for we might have been surprised, that's a fact," said the captain; "however, now she shall catch a Tartar."

From Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat

It is quite possible that a detachment of the enemy may have been sent up to the village, and in that case we might catch a Tartar.

From The Young Franc Tireurs And Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War by F. T. Young