What is the origin of the term "throw the book"? [closed]
I'm curious if "the book" in question is the bible?
Does anyone know where this term first entered the lexicon?
Solution 1:
Not, I think, the Bible, but the law book. The OED’s earliest citation is this from 1932:
The prosecuting attorney . . . determined to try to get the trial judge to ‘throw the book’ at him
Solution 2:
According to EtymOnline the saying dates back to 1932 and refers to a "law book" during sentencing.
To throw the book at (someone) is 1932, from notion of judge sentencing a criminal from a law book full of possible punishments.