brainstorming round 2: looking for an idiom?

[howsmyenglish]

This is for a translation. There's a boy, who stands out in the village, because he's moved there from the city. Teachers and classmates don't like that, and one, threatening the boy, says:

"You think you're a hero. I'll take the oil out of your hair!"

Saying "oil" he probably means the boy's hairstyle (even just the fact that he has one), but also his modern city clothes and ways.

Here's the question: can you think of an idiom or some better way to express what he's saying?
Or does "I'll take the oil out of your hair" sound OK?

Comments

[corvidology]

In England we'd probably say "I'll take you down a peg or two."

[howsmyenglish]

This sounds good. Thanks!

[angelofthenorth]

Seconded

[howsmyenglish]

thanks!

[thewayne]

Or "I'm gonna wipe that grin off your face!" Of course, if you fail to beat up the other person, it proves the grin is justified!

[ex_inklessej388]

The difference is an urban/rural kind of divide?

We used to call people from the city "city-slickers" when I lived in super northern Ontario (read very rural) because people from the city have slick, shiny hair. The oil in this sentence is probably the same kind of dig at urban dwellers, but "oil" itself is kind of clunky and gives away that English is not their first language. But I am also fond of its use here because it doesn't give away the person saying it, if they knew the name of the product in the kids hair for example, it wouldn't carry the weight of the divide I think you want in the larger context.

I saw the "take you down a peg or two" and that makes sense except that this phrase is usually directed toward the behavior of a person. In this instance, it feels like the person is being judged by their appearance and the contrast it creates with other villagers. So I am not entirely sold on it.

Implying the oil is dirty and thus his whole look, I'd settle with the purposely awkward "oil" but instead of "take" I'd use "wash" so it would read: I'll wash that oil out of your hair.

[howsmyenglish]

The "oil" is a literal translation of the original. The washing is probably not very suitable for the context, but still. I'll think about it. Thank you!

[thewayne]

That leads to an interesting contrast and anachronism with the musical/movie South Pacific (1958), set in World War 2, that has the song I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair where she's singing about breaking up with a man.

Not entirely related, your comment just spurred a thought in me.

[ex_inklessej388]

Wash has automatic connotation of purification which if there is the right context in the lead up can also have "holier than thou" applications in writing. That was what I read into the translation request here.

[thewayne]

Very true.  And that metaphor can be extended with village people and farmers being closer to the earth and thus holier than city slickers.

[howsmyenglish]

sorry :) i meant in the cultural context of the book (which i didn't share, so you couldn't have known)