short, sharp shock

short sharp shock

A fast, severe punishment. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. He needs a short sharp shock to persuade him to change his ways and give up that life of crime.
See also: sharp, shock, short

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.

short, sharp shock

1 a brief but harsh custodial sentence imposed on offenders in an attempt to discourage them from committing further offences. 2 a severe measure taken in order to effect quick results.
The Home Secretary William Whitelaw advocated the short sharp shock as a form of corrective treatment for young offenders at the 1979 Conservative Party Conference; the deterrent value of such a regime was to be its severity rather than the length of time served.
See also: sharp, shock
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • hiding to nothing
  • force (someone or an animal) out of (something)
  • force out of
  • force (someone or an animal) from (something)
  • cajole (one) out of (something)
  • cajole out of
  • preach to deaf ears
  • easy game
  • easy meat
  • be held in high regard
References in periodicals archive
"I think they should get a should get a short, sharp shock that will teach them a lesson.
"There will be a short, sharp shock and businesses have to weather that.
He, like those kids, is a spiteful, selfish little sh** who needs to be brought into line with a short, sharp shock.
Despite the downpour which broke our first proper blast of summer and delivered a short, sharp shock with thunder and lightning on Wednesday, it has remained warm and today temperatures are likely to reach a maximum 21degC.
But a brief cold snap is set to bring a short, sharp shock on Saturday.
McClaren insists that it's just a matter of confidence and form but with the players failing to perform for the third successive manager, the club must be considering whether a short, sharp shock is the only way to save themselves this season.
WHAT your brother needs is to be caught, preferably by your parents, and given a short, sharp shock. If he keeps getting away with theft, he won't stop.
With only a half-hour set, SOS delivered a short, sharp shock that worked perfectly.
Nuhu Gobir, defending bipolar Holland, who admitted affray and has a record for battery, said: "She has been in custody for three weeks and it has been a short, sharp shock for her."
A short, sharp shock hopefully will give the lad a wake up call.
Novelist AN Wilson has opted for a short, sharp shock that looks at how someone as ordinary and lazy as Hitler not only became the leader of a major nation, but also led it into a catastrophic war.
SHORT, SHARP SHOCK: The slap in Coronation Street which caused all the controversy.
Perhaps the short, sharp shock treatment would be a consideration.
A Short, Sharp Shock forecasts that aggregate GCC GDP will grow by about 20pc to more than $1trn in that year.
SINGER Boy George could face a "short, sharp shock" of a prison sentence after being found guilty of falsely imprisoning a male escort, a legal expert said.