do a number on
Inflict serious harm
To do a number on something or someone is to damage, harm, or affect it severely.
The phrase suggests thoroughness—whatever happened left a mark: The hurricane really did a number on the coastline, That breakup did a number on him.
It can describe physical damage, emotional harm, or psychological manipulation: She did a number on his head with all those mind games.
- knockStrike-produced sound
- bad-mouthCriticize someone harshly
- panShallow cooking vessel
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
wreck · destroy · tear apart · traumatize · ruin · take apart · exploit · sabotage · undermine · devastate · psych out · screw with · damage · work over · beat down · run roughshod over · humiliate · put through the wringer
- danceballet, breaking, folk dances, b-boying, folk dance
- destruction verbsdestroy, demolish, wreck, ruin, smash