short sharp shock
(chiefly, British) A regime intended to deter crime by making an immediate severe impact.
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UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(chiefly, British) A regime intended to deter crime by making an immediate severe impact.
Origin: Coined by W. S. Gilbert in the song "I Am So Proud" from The Mikado, referring euphemistically to a beheading. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Other words near "short sharp shock" (S)
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