take the starch out of (someone)
idiom
US, informal + old-fashioned
: to make (someone) weak or unsure : to cause (someone) to lose energy or confidence
When he lost the second game, it seemed to take the starch out of him.
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“Take the starch out of (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20starch%20out%20of%20%28someone%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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