Using disproportionately heavyweight means to achieve a minor goal

In Polish, there's an idiom, "z armatą na wróble" - translating directly "with a howitzer, against sparrows". It applies as criticism of using an unreasonably powerful, heavyweight, expensive, or otherwise "oversized" solution to solve a small problem. Say, using a flame-thrower with napalm to kill a spider, or calling SWAT on a school kid who drew a pistol in a notebook.

"Overkill" is a close expression but not exactly implying the scale - using AK-47 against wild turkeys is overkill. Using a howitzer against sparrows though?

Is there an idiom or other expression to imply something is not just an overkill, but one unambiguously disproportionate?

Solution 1:

I've heard "that's like killing a fly with a sledgehammer" or "never use a cannon to kill a fly".

• To grossly overreact to a minor error or mishap. CCL

Solution 2:

Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut

is the idiom in British English.

See Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary on line:

If you use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you use much more force than is needed:

“50 police officers to arrest two unarmed men is surely using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”