TAKE BY THE SCRUFF

v. phr. 1. To assert authority over a person. Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get cleaned up. 2. To punish a person. The boss took us by the scruff when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine. 3. To assume firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some difficulty. Someone had better take the post office by the scruff; there are too many customer complaints pouring in.