slap on the wrist

Idioms and Phrases

A mild reproof, as in We were fined heavily, and all she got from the judge was a slap on the wrist . [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

The recent slap on the wrist for a minor violation showed how much USC’s approach has changed since its last run-in with the NCAA.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump could leave a sentencing hearing with the legal equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

From BBC

Now, in the wake of his electoral win, experts told Salon that Trump's federal cases are essentially dead, and his Georgia trial will likely follow suit while his sentencing in New York is unlikely to amount to little more than a financial slap on the wrist.

From Salon

“At some point, the public gets frustrated when you bring the cases, and the cops walk away, or they walk away with a slap on the wrist.”

From Los Angeles Times

Hannah says she thinks it was a slap on the wrist designed to serve as a warning to other students.

From BBC