To punish someone as much as the laws or rules allow. This is the list, some 400 word and phrase origins. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion. Meaning sum of criminal charges is from 1926, hence slang phrase throw the book at 1932. Jun 03, 2008 cross at the green, not in betw dear word detective. What does throw the book at someone expression mean. This expression originally meant sentence a convicted person to the maximum penalties allowed, the book being the roster of applicable laws. The oftquoted origin, that babies in medieval times were bathed last, when the water was pitchblack and dirty enough that an. The book referenced in this idiom refers to a book of laws or rules.
View american english definition of throw the book at someone change your default dictionary to american english. Mar 12, 2014 7 tall tales about life in the 1500s and the origins of phrases. To do something by the book according to the rules is from 1590s. Words, phrases or sayings origins, meanings by brownielocks. This expression originated in the first half of the 1900s. In judicial slang, how did the phrase throw the book at him. Throwing the book at someone means actually charging someone with every conceivable charge related to the present offense. Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater wikipedia. Tasker grimhaven 1929 im doing one life jolt, and two onetofiftysyes sir, doing the book.
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. In judicial slang how did the phrase throw the book at him originate trivia question questions answer answers. The phrase originally meant swift and brutal murder, and was first used in macbeth. Im actually rather surprised you dont already have an entry for this but what, in your expert etymological opinion, is the origin of the phrase dont throw the baby out with the bath water.
As an informal fallacy, the red herring falls into a broad class of relevance fallacies. The etymologies of common words with straightforward explanations can be found in any good dictionary and i do. What is the origin of the idiom throwing the book at someone. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Throw the book at someone definition of throw the book at. To throw the book at someone is 1932, from notion of judge sentencing a criminal from a law book full of possible punishments.
Today the phrase throw down the gauntlet means to challenge or confront someone, but in its earliest use it wasnt meant as a metaphor, but was a physical shows this day in history. Simply choose a letter to start exploring, or choose one of the categories below. In this new edition, william and mary morris update and expand their classic work to keep pace with our ever changing language. This is a phrase that means to barely escape a disaster. Add throw the book at sb to one of your lists below, or create a new one. To search for quotations, enter a phrase to search for in the quotation, a whole or partial author name, or both. Find 910 synonyms for throw the book at and other similar words that you can use instead based on 5 separate contexts from our thesaurus. Throw the book at someone definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Etymology word origins interesting phrase histories. Whenever known, the origin of the phrase or proverb is noted. A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. What is the origin of the phrase to throw one under the bus. The origins of even more phrases we use every day to find out the history behind some of the most commonly used sayings. If your left ear tingled, it signaled evil intent from outside influences.
According to etymonline the saying dates back to 1932 and refers to a law book during sentencing. We have a list full of hundreds of phrases and sayings. Punish or reprimand severely, as in i just knew the professor would throw the book at me for being late with my paper. Sep 22, 2010 popular expressions and the origin of common sayings at. Etymology of phrases the origins and histories of idioms, sadinys, phrases, and other expressions are often even more fascinating than the etymologies of the individual words themselves. It goes back to the ancient romans, who had a strange obsession with burning sensations in various organs.
I think the da wanted to appear tough on crime, since shes seeking reelection. This phrase is believed to be derived from the old words willye, nillye or willhe, nillhe meaning whether you want to or not or whether he wants to or not. I really didnt know what to expect from this book when i started which made me enjoy this book much more than others i know who have read it. In judicial slang, how did the phrase throw the book at. Etymologists offer several theories about the origin of the phrase, which first appeared in print in the 17th. Change your default dictionary to american english. Definition of throw the book at in the idioms dictionary. If one throws the book at someone, it means that person has decided to be as strict as possible. Aug 29, 2018 today the phrase throw down the gauntlet means to challenge or confront someone, but in its earliest use it wasnt meant as a metaphor, but was a physical action intended to issue a formal.
Throw the book at sb meaning in the cambridge english. It lives on in modern day french, too, as ni rime ni raison. A proverbial phrase or a proverbial expression is type of a conventional saying similar to proverbs and transmitted by oral tradition. To throw ones hat in the ring issue a challenge, especially to announce ones candidacy, first recorded 1917. 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. Definition and synonyms of throw the book at someone from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of throw the book at someone.
Throw the book at someone phrase definition and synonyms. Whats the origin of the phrase throw the book at him. Throw the book at definition of throw the book at by the. Good question, and, it would seem, a timely one as well. Even though this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book. Definition and synonyms of throw the book at someone from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. Their origins and meanings reprint by ewart, neil isbn. A stones throw is an idiom that has been in use since the 1500s, though its popularity grew in the 1700s. The expression dates from the 1930s and is of american origin. You can use this list to learn about their meaning and origin. Therefore, the imagery of throwing a book at someone is one of a judge throwing a book of laws at a criminal as a punishment.
What does threw the book at them mean, and where did it. He thought it the perfect name for a casual shoe, which would quiet your barking dogs. The origin of the phrase is well documented in the oed. To book it, which has been recorded since the 1970s, is an abbreviation of the older bookity book, to run fast, to move quickly. The first edition of the morris dictionary of word and phrase origins detailed the fascinating and little known stories behind thousands of words and phrases that we use every day. Where those weird sayings we use every day come from a new book reveals the origins and meanings of some of the most popular and obscure sayings that we. Throw the book at someone definition of throw the book.
And, as with a lot of bible verses, they slip into everyday speech. Throw the book at someone, to charge them with a particular offence. Below is an alphabetical list of widely used and repeated proverbial phrases. The phrase throw the book at them refers to charging a persons with everything they were arrested for and was recorded in the book. Jul 28, 2009 throw the book at someone, to charge them with a particular offence. Throw the book at someone idioms by the free dictionary. Macduff utters the words on hearing of the death of his wife and children. Mar 20, 2019 the actual origin of the figurative sense of the phrase can be traced back to the early 1800s. The difference is that a proverb is a fixed expression, while a. The book as well as having all the prisoners offences, commonly had a list of legislated offences like a very washed down law book to aid the sergeant.
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. No time of origin is given for the first meaning i left out the 2 when first posting. 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. Throw the book at definition of throw the book at at. According to the companys history, one of its salesmen was dining on fried catfish and hushpuppies on a sales trip down south and was told the supposed story of the fried fritters origin. Porter might have advocated doing as the romans do when it comes to drinking, but it was robert burton in 1621 who is most widely credited with making the phrase famous, even if he didnt use it explicitly. Meanings and origins of phrases complete list of phrases and sayings. Unlike the straw man, which involves a distortion of the other partys position, the red herring is a seemingly plausible, though ultimately irrelevant, diversionary tactic. Definition of throw the book at someone in the idioms dictionary.
The judge threatened to throw the book at me if i didnt stop. The words and phrases are selected because their origins are inherently interesting or because some bit of folklore, sometimes true and sometimes false, is associated with the origin. The origin of the saying when in rome, do as the romans do. If a jockey was a long way ahead of his competitors and sure to win the race he could relax and put his hands down at his sides. An idioms symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Although no one knows the origin of the idiom hit the books, it seems to be related to early idioms such as hit the trail, which cowboys used when starting out on a journey. But, we dont have skin on our teeth we have enamel.
An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal meaning. This verb, which is echoic of the sound of shoes slapping on the ground, goes back at least to the 1930s, when one fin. English usage dates back to the sixteenth century, when the phrase was borrowed from the french na ryme ne raison. A red herring may be used intentionally, as in mystery fiction or as part of rhetorical strategies e. 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. The book is an imaginary book of rules or of offences and their prescribed penalties. This is the british english definition of throw the book at someone. View american english definition of throw the book at someone. What is the origin of the phrase book it, as in move. A set of written, printed, or blank pages fastened along one side and encased between protective covers. Here is a selection of wellknown expressions and how they came into being.
Some laws or rules can be somewhat lenient, depending on the judge or person in charge. I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. There are a large number of idioms and they are used very commonly in all languages. Its clear that this saying is a fairy contemporary one.