snap someone's head off

To snap someone’s head off is to yell at or talk very angrily with someone, as in The boss is going to bite Greg’s head off when he sees the mess that he made. 

A more common version of the phrase is bite someone’s head off.

These phrases are figurative—they don’t actually refer to literally biting or snapping off someone’s head.

They’re often used by the person who fears the wrath of someone else, as in Don’t snap my head off! I said I was sorry!

Example: If Jesse insults me one more time, I am going to snap his head off.

The first records of snap someone’s head off come from the 1880s. The first records of bite someone’s head off come from the mid-1900s. Both replaced the older snap someone’s nose off, which dates back to the early 1700s.

These phrases seem to be figuratively comparing a very angry person to a dangerous wild animal. They are often used in exaggerations.

What are some synonyms for snap someone’s head off?

• bite someone’s head off
• snap someone’s nose off
• yell at
• lay into
• chew out

What are some words that share a root or word element with snap someone’s head off? 

• snap
• head
• off

What are some words that often get used in discussing snap someone’s head off?

• anger
• rage
• fury
• yell
• curse
• insult

Snap someone’s head off is usually used by the person who is at the receiving end of such an action. Bite someone’s head off is much more common.

Hope the Dawg fans don't snap my head off.. But Kirby Smart is a good pick up

— Garrett Wright (@Wodie08) December 2, 2015

Seriously I’ve offered to help all week, so don’t snap my head off because you’re behind now

— Savanna Woelbing (@SavannaDawn3) December 7, 2018

im a bawling baby cause a lady who snapped my head off randomly just came in with a bottle of wine & a big apology

— shanNOn (@TempVar_User) July 30, 2018

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of snap someone’s head off?

A. scream at someone
B. calm someone down
C. get angry at someone
D. yell at someone