throwing the book at
Harshest possible sentence
Throwing the book at someone means imposing the maximum possible punishment or penalty, especially in legal contexts where a judge applies every applicable charge or the harshest sentence available: The prosecutor is throwing the book at him for the robbery.
The book is the law book—the full weight of legal authority.
The phrase extends beyond courtrooms to any situation where someone faces severe consequences: After the scandal, the board threw the book at the CEO.
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- maximum sentenceLongest term a judge can impose
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- guilty verdictCourt's culpability determination
reprimand · zero tolerance · no mercy · prosecution · indictment · court of law · accountability · enforcement · hyperbole · fine · consequences · idiom · deterrence · colloquialism · incarceration · probation · discipline · authority
throwing the book atletting off easy
letting slide · forgiving · looking the other way · turning a blind eye · pardoning
throwing the book atlooking the other way
Deliberately ignoring wrongdoing
turning a blind eye · plea bargaining · letting slide · sweeping under the rug
throw, throwing, thrown, throws, thrower, booked, booking, bookish, booklet