tan someone's hide

Idioms and Phrases

Also, have someone's hide . Spank or beat someone, as in Dad said he'd tan Billy's hide if he caught him smoking , or I'll have your hide if you take something without paying for it . This term uses hide in the sense of “skin.” The allusion in the first expression is to a spanking that will change one's skin just as chemicals tan animal hide (convert it into leather). [Second half of 1600s]