Punishment: English Vocabulary List

to give someone a mild warning or punish them in a way that is not harsh

"They only slapped him on the wrist."

"The judge just slapped him on the wrist with a small fine for the crime."

to make someone face the consequences or legal repercussions of their actions

"The criminal was brought to book."

"The police finally brought the serial killer to book after a ten year investigation."

to accept and confront the punishment or consequence of one's wrongdoings or irresponsible actions

"It is time to face the music."

"After cheating on the test he knew he would have to face the music when the teacher found out."

to be deserving of something that happens to one, particularly something that is unpleasant

"He had it coming to him."

"After all the lies he told, he had it coming when everyone found out."

to take the blame for another person's actions or accept full responsibility for a crime or wrongdoing that other people were also part of

"He took the fall for his boss."

"The innocent employee took the fall for the boss mistake and got fired unfairly."

something extremely hard that one goes through, often as a punishment

"The monk wore a hair shirt."

"The monk wore a hair shirt as penance and the rough fabric irritated his skin constantly."

in or to prison confinement

"They sent him up the river for ten years."

"The convicted criminal was sent up the river to serve twenty years in prison."

used for saying someone is being held, detained, or imprisoned indefinitely at the will of the ruling British monarch

"He is detained at His Majesty's pleasure."

"The dangerous criminal was detained at His Majesty pleasure in a maximum security prison."

to take legal action against someone and demand so much money and damages from them that it leaves them with nothing

"They will sue the pants off him."

"If the company doesn't compensate us fairly, we will sue the pants off them for negligence."

to officially punish someone by death

"The king put the traitor to death."

"The jury voted to put the murderer to death for his terrible crime."

to formally confront someone and demand an explanation for their conduct and actions, especially those in positions of authority who are deemed responsible

"The dictator will be brought to account."

"The shareholders brought the dishonest CEO to account for losing all their money."

used to refer to a punishment that is very harsh for a crime or wrong deed

"They wanted his head on a plate."

"The boss demanded his head on a platter after the project failed."

to give someone a mild punishment for a mistake or wrongdoing

"The teacher rapped him on the knuckles."

"The committee rapped them over the knuckles for breaking the rules."

a situation where there will be severe consequences or difficulties as a result of certain actions or events

"If we are late, there will be the devil to pay."

"If we miss the deadline there will be the devil to pay with our angry client."

a specific amount of money that is offered as a reward to anyone who captures or kills a particular person

"The rebel has a price on his head."

"The escaped prisoner had a price on his head for the murder he committed."

a prisoner who is sentenced to death and is about to be executed

"He is a dead man walking."

"The condemned prisoner, facing imminent execution, was described by the guards as a dead man walking."