B2idiominformalpoliticsIELTS-friendly
a slap on the wrist
USUK
a punishment that is much too light for what someone did
Usually critical. Often after 'get', 'receive' or 'only'.
In context
The factory polluted the river for years and only got a slap on the wrist.
Many people think a small fine is just a slap on the wrist for big companies.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office