It means to punish someone severely or to give them the maximum punishment for a crime. Throw definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Give at least three sample sentences to illustrate how the expression is used in context. Learn idiom definition, idiom examples, history of idioms and why we use them in everyday conversations. An idiom is a phrase, saying or a group of words that has a metaphorical not literal meaning, which has become accepted in common usage. To propel through the air with a motion of the hand or arm. If the authorities throw the book at someone, they are. Throw blanket definition of throw blanket by the free. Throw the book at someone meaning in the cambridge.
Throw the book at someone to punish someone very severely. Throw the book at someone definition of throw the book. I realize it means prosecute someone to the fullest extent of the law, a law enforcement term, but does anyone really know where. Throw money down the drain to waste money by spending it on something useles. Find out the meanings of common sayings page 2 idiom site. Where this occurs, each meaning for the idiom is numbered with corresponding numbers in the sample.
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. To apply all possible criminal charges to a lawbreaker. Throw the book at someone, to charge them with a particular offence. American slang throw the book at learn american idioms. Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale. To throw the book at someone definition and meaning. To punish someone as much as the laws or rules allow. An idioms figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.
Etymology the book is the entire collection of laws and penalties. I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. Throw the book at sb meaning in the cambridge english. If you mean in the context of parenting, counselling, teaching, it means instead of spending time to discuss, listen, teach, and help someone, you are just throwing a book at them and walking away. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal meaning. The judge was not lenient he threw the book at him.
Idiom definition, an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang ones head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics. If one throws the book at someone, it means that person has decided to be as strict as possible. A set of written, printed, or blank pages fastened along one side and encased between protective covers. Idioms occur in all languages on every continent throughout. Marty really got screwed over that jaywalking charge when the judge threw the. To punish or reprimand someone as severely as possible. He was very happy to work overtime today because he could go home half day on his anniversary. Thrown the book at article about thrown the book at by the. The primary meaning today is, however, a written work either in manuscript or in printed or electronic form that is of. Throw the book at, to idioms by the free dictionary. View american english definition of throw the book at someone. What does it mean to throw the kitchen sink at something. Throw the book at synonyms, throw the book at antonyms.
Throw a party to organize a party, especially in your own home. Having bought this book especially for my tutoring the english language to nonenglish speakers, i am extremely happy with the basic layout of the book as well as the fact that they do not only state the idiom expression and explain its meaning but they also put in examples as to how to use the relevant statement. Throw the book at someone definition of throw the book at. Throw the book at article about throw the book at by the. The intent of this slang is mean that the arrested person not receive any leniency but rather get hit hard with every law in the law book. To throw the book at someone definition and meaning collins. Throw the book at someone throw someone under the bus throw your hat into the ring thumb your nose tickled to death tickling the ivories tide you over tie the knot time and tide wait for no man in a timely fashion a tinkers dam tinkled pink the tipping point tis the season toe the line tongue tied toodle loo too much of good thing tough.
Throw the book at someone definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. An idiom is a phrase or an expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. Nov, 2015 what does the idiom throw the book at mean. What does the idiom throw the book at someone mean. To throw the book at someone is 1932, from notion of judge sentencing a criminal from a law book full of possible punishments. Definition and synonyms of throw the book at someone from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. The judge let me off with a warning after two speeding tickets. This is the british english definition of throw the book at someone. Throw at definition of throw at by the free dictionary. An idiom is a common word or phrase with a culturally understood meaning that differs from what its composite words denotations would suggest. It means that the remainder of a story is so well known that it belongs to that part of the past which gets to be history.
Throw the book at definition of throw the book at at. What is the meaning of throw the book at him in idiom. Throw the book at someone idioms by the free dictionary. Throw the book at throw the book at meaning english idioms throw the book at examples. Throw the book at legal definition of throw the book at. To give someone the maximum sentence for a crime or penalize very harshly. Throw the book at definition of throw the book at by the. The disciplinary board threw the book at him for the derogatory tirade he leveled at his employees. Whats the origin of the phrase throw the book at him. The police stopped me for speeding and threw the book at me for everything faulty lights, dangerous tyres, no insurance. But the next time, shes going to throw the book at me. The expression dates from the 1930s and is of american origin. Then, two or three example sentences 3 are provided to illustrate how the idiom is used. The rest is history is an easy enough idiom to parse.
Throw the book at definition and meaning collins english. Synonyms for throw the book at at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. A general name given to every literary composition which is printed. Define and explain it in understandable words including synonyms.
According to etymonline the saying dates back to 1932 and refers to a law book during sentencing. Anyone know the origin of the idiom or phrase throw the book at em. What is the origin of the idiom throwing the book at someone. If a teacher does anything wrong, they throw the book at him. English idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday english. Throw the book at someone phrase definition and synonyms. Top definition throw the book at unknown to give someone the maximum sentence for a crime or penalize very harshly. You may have gotten off lightly in the past, benny, but this time were going to throw the book at you. If you rob a bank, fire a gun into the ceiling to frighten people, and have a getaway car outside, you might be charged with bank robbery. There are a large number of idioms and they are used very commonly in all languages. It started with the slang phrase used by american prisoners doing the book, meaning serving the maximum time for a given offense presumably because the maximum time is the one specified in the law book 1928 r. Explanation for the throw the book at someone phrase in the dictionary. Throw in the towel idiom english idioms, idioms, learn.
Throw the book at definition of throw the book at by merriam. By another definition, an idiom is a speech form or an expression of a given language. The origin of the phrase is well documented in the oed. Throws the book at article about throws the book at by the.
Throw put a spanner in the works to do something that suddenly stops a process or plan. An idioms symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. They come up all the time in both written and spoken english. Throw definition, to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist. It is a coveted way of addressing the benefits that one derives out of having sex. What does the idiom throw the book at someone mean answers. Sep 12, 2018 learn idiom definition, idiom examples, history of idioms and why we use them in everyday conversations. A stones throw is an idiom that has been in use since the 1500s, though its popularity grew in the 1700s. Discover the definition of throw the book at someone in our extensive dictionary of english idioms and idiomatic expressions. Idiom definition is an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements such as up in the air for undecided or in its grammatically atypical use of words such as give way. Some laws or rules can be somewhat lenient, depending on the judge or person in charge. If someone in authority throws the book at someone who has committed an offence, they. This is often a cold, backhanded way of trying to deal with someones problems, by saying go read this and get better, but stop bothering me.
To make as many charges as possible against an offender. The book is an imaginary book of rules or of offences and their prescribed penalties. What does throw the book at someone expression mean. Look up throw to the wolves in wiktionary, the free dictionary. Abc meaning, definition, examples, origin, synonyms. Throw the book at definition is to punish someone as severely as possible. Throw the book at throw the book at meaning english. Throw the book at him idioms by the free dictionary. Throw the book at definition of throw the book at by. Throw the book at somebody idioms by the free dictionary. After his third offense, the judge threw the book at the criminal, making parole all but an impossibility. When a boxer is being hit too much, is losing the fight and has great difficultly to conti. Home phrase and idiom dictionary what does throw the book at someone mean. It means to charge a suspect with every possible crime that he can be considered guilty of, even minor ones.
An idiom s figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning. Throw the book at someone meaning in the cambridge english. Find descriptive alternatives for throw the book at. Tasker grimhaven 1929 im doing one life jolt, and two onetofiftysyes sir, doing the book.
The book in throw the book at him is a reference to a law book. Although the precise origin of this phrase is not known but it can be correlate with other idioms which starts with the term hit the for example hit the nail on the head or hit the sack. May 04, 2019 we have an expression the judge threw the book at him meaning the law book. I think the da wanted to appear tough on crime, since shes seeking reelection. Wolves attacking a sleigh throw to the wolves is an english metaphorical idiom, meaning to sacrifice someone to save or benefit oneself or ones group.
Definition of throw the book at someone from the cambridge academic. Change your default dictionary to american english. Definition of throw the book at someone in the idioms dictionary. Highest voted idiommeaning questions page 3 english. Throw blanket synonyms, throw blanket pronunciation, throw blanket translation, english dictionary definition of throw blanket. I realize it means prosecute someone to the fullest extent of the law, a. Definition of throw the book at in the idioms dictionary.
698 530 1378 506 467 755 766 207 1315 779 1178 990 621 569 1215 1146 1295 883 1101 1594 150 187 1118 179 803 475 1419 638 1457 79 1545 897 55 791 581 112 121 168 1020