Anonymous  +  681759 Mon, 02 Mar 09 03:43 AM Please clarify the following phrase: Open up a can of whup-ass on somebody.    - Sergey Anonymous

	Clive  +  681768 Mon, 02 Mar 09 04:23 AM Hi, Please clarify the following phrase: Open up a can of whup-ass on somebody.  It's a jocular and uneducated (or mock-uneducated) way of saying 'Beat or injure someone severely'. Another form of the phrase is 'I'm going to whip his ass'. Such phrases can be meant literally or figuratively. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,622 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Avangi  +  681771 Mon, 02 Mar 09 04:27 AM Haven't heard it put quite that way.  Of course, "opening up a can of worms" is like taking the cork out of the genie's bottle.  Once you open the lid, the news just keeps getting worse. I suspect your expression means that A has revealed something about B which is going to get him in a lot of trouble with C, probably resulting in his getting his arse kicked big-time. Edit.  Clive is probably right.  Probably the person who opens the can is the one who delivers the ass-whupping. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,182 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Countries, Great Britain, Ireland