throw the book at
phrase
informal
: to punish (someone) as severely as possible
The judge threatened to throw the book at him if he committed another offense.
Cite this Entry
“Throw the book at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20the%20book%20at. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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