beat the socks off someone—(coll., also: beat someone’s pants off ) win decisively over an opponent in a competition:
- The true bingo professionals—like us—will beat the socks off the amateurs every time.
knock someone’s socks off—(U.S. coll.) impress smb. greatly; amaze or stun a person:
- You wouldn’t expect teenagers to sing opera, but these kids will knock your socks off.
See also: pull one’s socks up / work one’s socks off.