a slap on the wrist

slap on the wrist

A mild punishment or warning. Bill hasn't been late to school that many times, so just give him a slap on the wrist for his tardiness. Most people are outraged that the corporation only received a slap on the wrist after breaking so many regulations.
See also: on, slap, wrist
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a slap on the wrist

A slap on the wrist is a small punishment or occasion when someone is told they have done something wrong. She was given a small fine — a slap on the wrist really. But other than a few slaps on the wrist, the General went unpunished.
See also: on, slap, wrist
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a slap on the ˈwrist

(informal) a small punishment or warning: I got a slap on the wrist from my secretary today for leaving the office so untidy.
See also: on, slap, wrist
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • slap (one's) wrist
  • slap someone’s wrist
  • slap on
  • slap
  • turkey slap
  • agree with
  • slap (one) five
  • a touch of the sun
  • slap onto
References in periodicals archive
"Giving prolific criminals no more than a slap on the wrist is not justice."
Cop the three strike rule; Anger as judges go soft on burglars
Presenter Ryan Tubridy was given a slap on the wrist for compounding the offence when he said, "Great expression".
Rejection of the Eucharist 'ghost' gripes
over the deaths, Mr Dunsby said the censure was nothing more than "a slap on the wrist".
Censure for MOD just a slap on the wrist, says grieving father; from page 1
"Instead they got a slap on the wrist while one has a new job working for an SNP MP.
BLACK MARK FOR MHAIRI; New MP hires councillor who burned Smith Commission report to help run her office POLITICS SPOTLIGHT ON NEWS AND VIEWS ACROSS SCOTLAND
J defends the British justice system, 'Legal defence', (GDN, August 12), yet the UK is a country where if you are charged for the 18th time with a violent offence after glassing a stranger in the face in a nightclub, you walk away from court with a slap on the wrist.
Where's justice?
"It was more a slap on the wrist and probably 'don't do it again'."
Ballance getting his act together; CRICKET
We have a number of police logs and have also involved the environmental people and the university where the students are from, but all they get is a slap on the wrist and told to behave (what a joke).
Students cause strife; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk
Summary: Doctors flaunting their 'white coats' outside of the workplace have been given a slap on the wrist by the Ministry of Health.
'White coats' banned outside of workplace
The courts have a role when culprits are identified to give really punitive sentence, not a slap on the wrist as is usual.
Community sentences; Mailbag letters also appear online at www.examiner.co.uk/letters Mailbag
He said: "I'm angry they got a slap on the wrist - it can't end like this.
'How did they get off with slaps on wrist?'
Courts have taken harsh measures against Jews in Judea and Samaria, but a judge gave only a slap on the wrist to a leftist who struck policemen.
Scales of Justice: 30-Day Term for Leftist Who Hit Policemen
Shadow Justice Secretary Dominic Grieve said: "While Jacqui Smith is announcing gimmicks to try and tackle burglary, thousands of burglars are being let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Victims are being denied justice, and ministers are sending out the message that the onus is on the householder to protect their home but not on the criminal justice system to enforce the law."
Seven in ten UK burglars avoid prison
Three teenagers were jailed for life for the murder last year, but yesterday his widow said many violent criminals were being let off with "a slap on the wrist".
Widow's torment after latest street killing
Both men were fined and ordered to pay Mr Sillick, who runs a cleaning company, pounds 100 each in compensation - a sentence he branded 'a slap on the wrist' yesterday.
Jetskiers who splashed Stroud's flood-hit homeowners are fined