slap on the wrist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The judge gave Google a slap on the wrist and said the competitive dynamics of the marketplace were changing already, largely because of AI.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025
"He admitted to what he'd done, and it was like a slap on the wrist," she said.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2025
Instead, her claim says, the officer who made the comments received what’s known as a comment card — the department’s equivalent of a slap on the wrist.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2025
Hannah says she thinks it was a slap on the wrist designed to serve as a warning to other students.
From BBC • Oct. 24, 2024
“Yeah, The Corporation will probably only get a slap on the wrist and get to set up shop somewhere else. Everything’s being blamed on Ladybird. Typical.”
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
