into a cocked hat

idiom

informal + old-fashioned
1
US : into a state of confusion, ruin, etc.
The discovery has knocked/thrown all our old assumptions into a cocked hat.
2
British
used to say that one person or thing is much better than another
The old design was good, but this new one knocks/beats it into a cocked hat.

Examples of into a cocked hat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The whole week was knocked into a cocked hat when the White House meeting with Zelensky blew up. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Into a cocked hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/into%20a%20cocked%20hat. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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