COCKED HAT, THROW INTO A

(slang) a variation of the expression knock into a cocked hat, meaning "damage or spoil completely; ruin" or "beat or defeat (someone or something) completely; be of much higher quality or value than." 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. —HSSC Glossary (approved 3-9-90)

(slang) a variation of the expression knock into a cocked hat, meaning "damage or spoil completely; ruin" or "beat or defeat (someone or something) completely; be of much higher quality or value than." 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) a variation of the expression knock into a cocked hat, meaning "damage or spoil completely; ruin" or "beat or defeat (someone or something) completely; be of much higher quality or value than." A cocked hat was a type of three-cornered hat worn in the eighteenth century. It was made by folding the edges of the round hat worn in the seventeenth 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. In other words, you could throw those rudiments into a cocked hat. -Sec Checks, Withholds (10 Jan. 62)