What is the origin of the term “throw the book”? [closed]

Question

I'm curious if "the book" in question is the bible?

Does anyone know where this term first entered the lexicon?

Barrie England · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-09 20:09:49Z

up vote 2 down vote accepted

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

answered Jan 9 '12 at 20:09

Barrie England
79.3k489169

simchona · Answer 2 · 2012-01-09 20:07:41Z

up vote 2 down vote

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.

edited Jan 9 '12 at 20:07

simchona♦
22.4k465105

answered Jan 9 '12 at 20:06

kdmurray
57429

closed as general reference by jwpat7, Matt Эллен, simchona♦, kiamlaluno, Daniel δ Jan 10 '12 at 1:25