throw the book at someone
idiomatic phrase

- to punish someone as severely as possible

Cambridge Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The phrase “to throw the book at someone” originated in the U.S. during the 1930s. The book, which refers to a book of law, is thrown at the accused in a figurative sense.

Books of law are thick and heavy, so that when it is thrown it brings the “full weight of the law” against the accused.

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SYNONYMS

strongly berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, have very strong words with, jump down s/o's throat, severely punish, rake over the coals, severely reprimand, rip into, take to task, upbraid

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

“Jim's going to be late with the report again. I'm afraid that management will THROW THE BOOK AT HIM this time.”