throw the book at sb
Definition
› to severely punish someone: After the accident, the safety inspector threw the book at the company directors.Chastising and rebukingPunishing and punishmentsPunishing by causing painHitting and beating
(Definition of throw the book at sb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Browse the Dictionary
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throw sth together phrasal verb
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throw sth up phrasal verb (IDEA)
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throw sth up phrasal verb (JOB)
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throw sth/sb off phrasal verb
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throw the baby out with the bathwater idiom
- throw the book at sb idiom
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throw up your hands in horror/despair idiom
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throw verb (ANGER)
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throw verb (CONFUSE)
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throw verb (MOVE QUICKLY)
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throw verb (PARTY)
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- attach verb (TAKE GOODS)
- attachment noun (TAKING GOODS)
- bar verb (PREVENT)
- be brought/called to account idiom
- carrot and stick idiom
- catch up with sb phrasal verb (PUNISH)
- clobber verb (HIT)
- come down on sb/sth phrasal verb
- crucify verb
- discipline verb (PUNISH)
- flay sb alive idiom
- kick (some) ass idiom
- parking ticket noun
- penal adjective (PUNISHMENT)
- penalize verb (PUNISH)
- punish verb (CRIME)
- punishable adjective
- sentence noun (PUNISHMENT)
- skin sb alive idiom
- you might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb idiom
Topic:
Punishing & punishments
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