throwing the book at

Verb

throw the book at (third-person singular simple present throws the book at, present participle throwing the book at, simple past threw the book at, past participle thrown the book at)

1. (idiomatic, informal, transitive) To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
   • COURT THROWS BOOK AT HIM: ... Thomas Pasco, beggar, got everything the statutes would permit Judge Binkle to give him yesterday afternoon.1903 September 9, “COURT THROWS BOOK AT HIM”, in Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA, page 5
2. (idiomatic, informal, transitive) To apply the harshest possible punishment to.
   • [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."1897 December 12, “Light Sentences for Criminals”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, page 16

   Synonyms:

   throw the rulebook at

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