pinning their ears back

To have one’s ears pinned back means to be severely scolded or to be bested in an athletic contest, soundly. The idiom have one’s ears pinned back is an American phrase that came into use in the mid-1800s. Its origin is uncertain. Some say it is derived from the sport of wrestling and some say it is somehow linked to the emotional state of an animal with its ears pinned back, though both of these explanations seem rather dubious. It may be more likely that the phrase have one’s ears pinned back is related to some sort of physical punishment that has gone out of common use. Related terms are has one’s ears pinned back, had one’s ears pinned back and having one’s ears pinned back.

pinning their ears back "He's about to have his ears pinned back" Paul Drake, to Perry Mason from the TV series "Perry Mason"