your grandmother might just clip your ears

[jacdac]

‘Button it, Sergeant Farrow, or your grandmother might just clip your ears.’
Source: Fire on the Fens.

This picture shows someone clipping the lady’s ear, right?

Thank you.

 

[Orble]

No that’s not it. It is an old term for a little hit about the ears or head to discipline you, usually from a family member. I think the sergeant is referring to himself jokingly as “your grandmother”.

 

[Orble]

Here is a transcript of an old Australian war veteran talking about his life growing up with twelve brothers and sisters:

...of course Mervyn went in and he got a little clip on the ears, then Kevin went in and got a little clip and she finally takes me up for getting up there but I landed up the other end of the hallway because she clipped me right behind the back of the head.​

 

[Copyright]

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English: clip: v.3. Informal. to hit with a quick, sharp blow: He clipped me on the jaw.

 

[velisarius]

As far as I know, In England pinching or twisting a kid's ear as a punishment is unknown.

I understand "clip your ears" as a British "clip round the ear" and with the same meaning indicated by Copyright and Orble.