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Bring Down the Hammer

What Does "Bring Down the Hammer" Mean?

homeidiomsBring Down the Hammer
"Bring down the hammer" is an English idiom. It means "to enforce rules, make a final decision, or take strong action."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "bring down the hammer" used in a sentence:
  • The judge had no choice but to bring down the hammer and sentence the criminal to prison.
  • After repeated warnings, the teacher had to bring down the hammer and give detention to the unruly students.
  • The company's CEO decided to bring down the hammer and implement layoffs to cut costs.
meaning for bring down the hammer

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Bring Down the Hammer" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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