lower the boom

idiom

The phrase "lower the boom" is rooted in nautical terminology and is used to describe sudden, forceful actions, often involving punishment or reprimand.

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Definition

C1General

(informal)To take sudden and forceful action to punish or reprimand someone.

Example

The manager lowered the boom on the team for missing the deadline.
When the kids broke the vase, their mother lowered the boom on them.

C1General

(informal)To impose strict measures or restrictions suddenly.

Example

The government lowered the boom on illegal parking by increasing fines.
The school lowered the boom on tardiness by implementing a new attendance policy.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "lower the boom":

put the boom down bring down on bring down drop the bomb drop a bombshell come down on low blow blow down knock down shoot down take down a notch cut down to size drop behind slap down cut down throw down put the boot in blow the roof off smash down let down strike down beat down call down keep down lay down the law get down batten down wait for the other shoe to drop shake down bring the lumber get the drop on