a short, sharp shock

short, sharp shock

1. A sudden and severe measure or punishment utilized to produce a quick and effective result. It is clear now that the policy of punishing young offenders with a short, sharp shock is much less effective than education and emotional training. The financial bailout was meant to be a short, sharp shock to the economy, but the country's sluggish recovery has meant it's been in place for far longer than intended.
2. An experience that is brief but intense. Our latest recipe gives a short, sharp shock of flavor that dissipates into a more mellow, long-lasting taste.
See also: sharp, shock
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a short, sharp shock

BRITISH
A short, sharp shock is a punishment that is severe but only lasts for a short time. Many parents believe that a short sharp shock is at times necessary for naughty children.
See also: sharp, shock
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • give (oneself) over to (someone or something)
  • give oneself over to
  • be in/out of use
  • get off with (something)
  • keep (something) up (one's) sleeve
  • be in use
  • in use
  • silence means consent
  • on report
  • take the goods the gods provide
References in periodicals archive
With only a half-hour set, SOS delivered a short, sharp shock that worked perfectly.
SOS
For his ATTACK on a 5ft, 63-year-old widower, King has rightly been given not so much a short, sharp SHOCK - but a lifetime to reflect on his actions at her majesty's pleasure.
Judge sends out the right message; WeSAY IN OUR OPINION
A Short, Sharp Shock forecasts that aggregate GCC GDP will grow by about 20pc to more than $1trn in that year.
Gulf economies are set to recover next year
"If it is custody, they tend to give them a short, sharp shock in a case like this."
Singer could face prison after guilty verdict
A short, sharp shock like a smack achieves more than verbal chastisement.
Letter: A smack is the answer
Teenage arsonists are being given a short, sharp shock by a 30-year-old video nasty.
Child deaths tape shown to arsonists
There has to be a short, sharp shock to first offenders - if not in prison, then a period of complete separation from all home essentials and hard labour.
Letter: Woolf's views help burglars
Sentencing him to four months a judge in Leicester said: "You need a short, sharp shock."
Naz crash man jailed