slap on
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.
After a prolonged legal battle between Elon Musk and U.S. regulators over his past purchase of Twitter shares, the technology CEO is getting off with little more than a slap on the wrist.
From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026
The 36-year-old's victim, Ismail Qureshi, described the sentence as "a slap on the wrist".
From BBC • May 1, 2026
If those words mean anything, the school will identify the students who disrupted the event and hand them more than a slap on the wrist.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
It would be generous to call that fine a slap on the wrist.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
So I slap on that smile and pretend everything’s okay even though it’s not.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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