throw the book at
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From the metaphor of a large book, containing all the possible laws broken or punishments for a particular crime, being thrown at an offender. Attested since at least 1897.
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
[edit]throw the book at (third-person singular simple present throws the book at, present participle throwing the book at, simple past threw the book at, past participle thrown the book at)
- (transitive, idiomatic, informal) To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
- 1903 September 9, “COURT THROWS BOOK AT HIM”, in Spokesman-Review[1], Spokane, WA, page 5:
- COURT THROWS BOOK AT HIM: ... Thomas Pasco, beggar, got everything the statutes would permit Judge Binkle to give him yesterday afternoon.
- (transitive, idiomatic, informal) To apply the harshest possible punishment to.
- Synonym: throw the rulebook at
- 1897 December 12, “Light Sentences for Criminals”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer[2], Seattle, WA, page 16:
- [C]riminals ... dreaded to be brought into his court, as a conviction meant a severe sentence. As one criminal expressed it to another, "The judge throws the book at you."
- 1926, Will James, Cowboys north and south, page 95:
- The judge, not weeping any, throws the book at him, which means he gives Bob the limit.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, the, book, at.
Translations
[edit]charging with as many crimes as possible
applying the harshest punishment