thrown the book at
Gave maximum penalty
To throw the book at someone is to punish them as severely as possible, especially by charging them with every applicable offense or imposing the maximum penalty: The judge threw the book at him—twenty years without parole.
The book is the law or rulebook.
The phrase sometimes extends to any harsh treatment of an offender: When the school found out he'd been cheating, they threw the book at him.
- crack downEnforce rules more strictly
- zero tolerancePolicy allowing no infractions
- no mercyComplete absence of clemency
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- maximum sentenceLongest term a judge can impose
come down hard · justice · sentencing · lay down the law · read the riot act · fine · accountability · prosecution · retribution · verdict · make an example of · deterrence · incarceration · consequences · penalty · tough love · heavy hand · authority
thrown the book atlet off the hook
slapped on the wrist · let slide · cut some slack · pardoned · forgiven
thrown the book atlooked the other way
Deliberately avoided noticing
turned a blind eye · acquitted · exonerated · pardoned · swept under the rug
throw, threw, throws, throwing, book, books, booked, booking, bookish