COCKED 'AT, KNOCK INTO A

(slang) damage or spoil completely; ruin. ('at is a dialect form of hat.) A cocked hat was a type of three-cornered hat worn in the 18th century. It was made by folding the edges of the round hat worn in the 17th century into corners. The phrase first meant to change something completely and later to defeat someone or something completely, and thus to damage, spoil or ruin. —Academy Level 0 Glossary Approved 3-12-90

(slang) damage or spoil completely; ruin. ('at is a dialect form of hat.) A cocked hat was a type of three-cornered hat worn in the 18th century. It was made by folding the edges of the round hat worn in the 17th century into corners. The phrase first meant to change something completely and later to defeat someone or something completely, and thus to damage, spoil or ruin. (slang) damage or spoil completely; ruin. (at is a dialect form of hat.) A cocked hat was a type of three-cornered hat worn in the 18th century. It was made by folding the edges of the round hat worn in the 17th century into corners. The phrase first meant to change something completely and later to defeat someone or something completely, and thus to damage, spoil or ruin. Do you intend to improve this person's itsaing ability, or do you intend to knock it into a cocked 'at? -The Itsa Line (cont.) (21 Aug. 63)