punish for

punish (someone or oneself) for (something)

To penalize or discipline someone or oneself for some crime, wrong, mistake, or other transgression. Bob punished himself for breaking his diet over the holidays by only eating vegetables for two weeks straight. I feel like this heavy workload is the boss's way of punishing me for disagreeing with him during the meeting.
See also: punish
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

punish someone for something

to discipline someone for [doing] something. Someone will punish you for what you did. Please don't punish me for doing it. I'm sorry.
See also: punish
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • punish (someone or oneself) for (something)
  • penalize
  • penalize (someone or something) for (something)
  • penalize for
  • punish with
  • punish with (something)
  • pinned
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
  • keep sight of somebody/something
References in periodicals archive
He said: "God does not punish for no reason but collectively punishes.
God 'sent tsunami to punish us'
The courts demand that the state demonstrate that the action ordered is intended to prevent harm in the future, not to punish for past actions, and that the action is reasonably related to the public health objective.
Collaboration between public health and law enforcement: the constitutional challenge. (Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax)
Why, in Heaven's name, am I to be sacrificed to the good of society in this way?-unless, of course, I deserve it." Inflicting a penalty merely to deter -- rather than to punish for deeds done -- is the very definition of cruelty.
Ten anti-death penalty fallacies: the case against capital punishment relies on myth, misinformation, and misplaced emotionalism. (Crime and Punishment)