slap someone on the wrist

slap (one) on the wrist

To issue one with a very mild, inconsequential punishment or warning. The CEO ripped off millions of people, and instead of throwing him in jail where he belongs, they're just slapping him on the wrist. Of course the country is going to keep developing nuclear weapons if all we do is slap them on the wrist for it.
See also: on, slap, wrist
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

slap someone on the wrist

verb
See slap someone’s wrist
See also: on, slap, someone, wrist
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • poetic justice
  • start off at (something or some place)
  • drop into (one's) lap
  • drop/fall into somebody's lap
  • chain of command
  • be in the right spot at the right time
  • catch a tiger by the tail
  • the blame for (something)
  • be nothing to (one)
  • be/mean nothing to somebody