throw the book at
To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The judge will throw the book at him for the theft.”
“The school principal decides to throw the book at the students who started the fire.”
“The referee will throw the book at any player who hits another person.”
“Because this was his third time breaking the law, the prosecutor decided to throw the book at him.”
“If the police catch you driving without a license again, they will likely throw the book at you.”
“The city council wants to throw the book at the landlord for ignoring all the safety regulations.”
“Given the severity of the corporate fraud, the authorities vowed to throw the book at every executive involved in the scheme.”
first recorded 19th c.
Attested since at least 1897, the phrase derives from the metaphor of a judge hurling a volume containing every applicable law and punishment at a defendant. The book in question represents the full weight of the legal code, ensuring that the offender is not merely sentenced, but is rather buried under the collective severity of every possible statute.
- 01
bad books
Disfavor.
- 02
balance the books
To add up all the debits and credits.
- 03
blot one's copy book
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
- 04
book burning
Any mass destruction, removal, or recalling of books, motion pictures, broadcasts, or electronic works as a form of censorship, especially motivated by religious or political objections to the material.
- 05
book dumping
The practice of donating old used books that burden rather than assist communities.
- 06
book in
To check in (to a hotel).
- 07
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 08
close the book on
To stop worrying about or trying to do something about; to ignore.
Last updated August 10, 2026