# throw the book at

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
2. To apply the harshest possible punishment to.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, the, book, at.

## 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/throw-the-book-at