punch someone's lights out

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punch someone's lights out (third-person singular simple present punches someone's lights out, present participle punching someone's lights out, simple past and past participle punched someone's lights out)

1. (idiomatic) To give someone a serious beating using one's fists; to punch someone until he or she is unconscious.
   • 1979 May 10, “NL Action is Wild and Woolly”, in Spokane Daily Chronicle, retrieved 12 November 2015, page 45:

     "My intention was to punch his lights out," Parker said of Garber, "but as I got closer to the mound, my faculties came back and I cooled off. I just him and asked him what was going on."

   • 1980 July 17, Mike Steere, “Mediation Can Replace Lawsuits”, in Toledo Blade, retrieved 12 November 2015, page 18:

     After nasty phone calls, curses hurled over the back fence, fist-shaking, and other attempts to impress him with your seriousness, you meet him at the supermarket, lose control, and punch his lights out.

   • 2005 December 11, Terry Golway, “Jersey: Codey Can Now Bow Out With His Head Held High”, in New York Times, retrieved 12 November 2015:

     A Jersey Guy is a guy who does his duty and loves his family and will punch your lights out if you insult his wife.

• beat someone's brains out
• beat to a pulp
• knock someone's lights out

• put someone's lights out