Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to throw the book at someone
idiom
/tə θroʊ ðə bʊk æt ˈsʌmwʌn/
Definition
To punish someone as severely as possible under the law or rules.
Examples
- After the court hearing, the judge decided to throw the book at him for his repeated offenses.
- When the company found out about the fraud, they decided to throw the book at the employee involved.
Meaning
This phrase is often used to express the idea of imposing the maximum penalty or consequences on someone for their actions.
Synonyms
- to impose maximum penalties
- to penalize severely
- to take a harsh approach
