A kick in the shins phrase
The nouns "head", "face", "guts" and "balls" can be substituted for the noun "shins".
In the second meaning, the phrase is often used prescriptively.
Used to refer to a totally disappointing failure.
Mary failed the driving test and it was a kick in the shins.
Used to refer to severe punishment for behaving stupidly or maliciously.
I think you need a kick in the shins for making a silly mistake.
Your insulting words deserved a kick in the shins.
Confusion made worse than before.
There was heavy traffic on the way to work this morning. Confusion worse confounded when some drivers were arguing with each other right in the middle of the street.