lower the boom
Deliver harsh consequences
To lower the boom is to take decisive, often punitive action—to crack down or deliver a blow: The IRS lowered the boom on tax evaders.
The phrase suggests sudden, forceful intervention after a period of tolerance.
From the nautical boom, a heavy spar that swings across the deck—when it comes down, you'd better not be underneath it.
- clobberDefeat or strike decisively
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- read the riot actSeverely warn of consequences
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- clampdownHarsh enforcement of restrictions
come down hard · admonish · punish · chastise · call out · enforce · get tough · censure · upbraid · condemn · reprimand · straighten out · lay down the law · confront · crack the whip · put one's foot down · take a stand · rein in
lower the boomlet off the hook
let slide · turn a blind eye · look the other way · forgive and forget · cut some slack
lower the boomhold back
Prevent forward movement
let it go · do nothing · bite one's tongue · sit on one's hands · kick the can down the road
lower, boom, lowers, lowered, lowering, lowest, lowness, booms, boomed