throw the book at

Idioms  

1. Punish or reprimand severely, as in I just knew the professor would throw the book at me for being late with my paper. This expression originally meant “sentence a convicted person to the maximum penalties allowed,” the book being the roster of applicable laws. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

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Example Sentences

“Throw the book at them,” Fred Sutton, a senior vice president with the California Apartment Assn., told the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

But working against him is a long pattern of behavior that seems designed in a lab to infuriate a judge, who may also choose to lean on a presentencing report that says to throw the book at Bankman-Fried.

From Slate

Premier Chris Minns has added: "If there's been a breach of the law then, of course, we'll throw the book at them."

From BBC

She urged the judge to throw the book at Martin because he “is not fit to live in society.”

From Seattle Times

"I know that they're going to throw the book at me," O'Sullivan told the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• abuse
• chastise
• correct
• crack down on
• discipline
• dismiss
• execute
• expel
• fine
• harm
• hurt
• incarcerate
• sentence