sentence (one) to (something)

sentence (one) to (something)

To impose a particular legal penalty upon one who is found guilty of a crime. The judge sentenced the former CEO to 30 years in prison for his role in defrauding millions of customers over the span of 15 years. They sentenced him to 5 years of hard labor for simply stealing a loaf of bread.
See also: sentence
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sentence someone to something (for something)

[for a judge] to order someone to suffer confinement, death, or labor for committing a crime. The judge sentenced Roger to three years in prison for the crime. The judge sentenced him to hard labor.
See also: sentence
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • chain of command
  • start out at (something or some place)
  • start out at an amount of money
  • start off at (something or some place)
  • the blame for (something)
  • drop into (one's) lap
  • drop/fall into somebody's lap
  • cook the books
  • cook the accounts
  • be in the right spot at the right time