Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

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THROW THE BOOK AT (SOMEONE)

to give someone the harshest penalty or punishment allowed by law, or to impose any severe sentence or punishment
 THROW THE BOOK AT (SOMEONE)
1. The judge decided to punish the thief to the full extent of the law. Instead of being lenient and giving him a light jail sentence, he threw the book at him
2. The girl decided to buy the pack of gum instead of taking it without paying. She knew that if she got caught, they’d throw the book at her

The book refers to a book of laws, and throwing it at someone means applying the maximum sentence a judge can legally impose upon a person convicted of a crime.


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