Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

throw the book at

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.73 in modern English

Syllables: throw the -book at
IPA

29

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.

Informal; Transitive verb

verb

To apply the harshest possible punishment to.

Informal; Transitive verb

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, the, book, at.

Example Sentences

"COURT THROWS BOOK AT HIM: ... Thomas Pasco, beggar, got everything the statutes would permit Judge Binkle to give him yesterday afternoon."
"[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.""
"The judge, not weeping any, throws the book at him, which means he gives Bob the limit."

Etymology

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.

Usage

Inflected Forms

throws the book at (present, singular) throwing the book at (participle, present) threw the book at (past) thrown the book at (participle, past)

Synonyms

throw the rulebook at

Questions

What does throw the book at mean?: To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
Where does throw the book at come from?: 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.

How to pronounce throw the book at

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