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

W. Tell him, if he should try, he may catch a Tartar.

From The Life, Adventures & Piracies of the Famous Captain Singleton by Daniel Defoe

"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

“Take care you don’t catch a Tartar, mon cher altesse!” cautioned the punning plenipotentiary.

From The Child Wife by Mayne Reid

Deserters said that Lévis would assault the town; and the soldiers replied: "Let him come on; he will catch a Tartar."

From Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman