use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

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use a sledgehammer to crack a nut (British & Australian)

to do something with more force than is necessary to achieve the result you want

Usage notes: A sledgehammer is a large, heavy tool with a wooden handle and a metal head that is used for hitting things.

Sending ten men to arrest one small boy was a clear case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

See also: crack, nut, use

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Director of human rights group Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said: "You don't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, nor targeted surveillance to stop a litterbug. City using 'snooper's charter' to crack crime; Terror law invoked to ... by South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales)			upper crust upper hand upright uproar uproot uproot from uproot from some place ups and downs upset upset plans upset the apple cart upset the applecart upshot of upside upside-down upstairs uptake upward urban legend urge urge along urge forward urge on urge to do use use a sledgehammer to crack a nut use as use as an excuse use before use by use every trick in the book use for use foul language use head Use loaf use over use some elbow grease use strong language use the bathroom use up use with use your head for more than a hatrack used used to used to do user friendly usher usher in usher into some place usher out of some place usher to			USDRE USDRIP USDRP USDRS USDRT USDS USDS:DMS USDSEA USDSO USDSSA USDST USDT USDTA USDTKA USDTL USDTV USDU USDVA USDW USDWA USDX USDY use use use use use use use use a firm hand use a sledgehammer to crack a nut Use and Abuse of Amulets Use and Abuse of Amulets Use and Abuse of Amulets Use and disposal Use and disposal Use and Exposure Information Project Use and Occupancy Use and Occupancy Insurance Use and occupation Use and Ownership of Aircraft Vehicles Use and Ownership of Aircraft Vehicles Use and Ownership of Aircraft Vehicles Use and Ownership of Aircraft Vehicles Use and Possession of Land Ownership Use and Possession of Land Ownership Use and Possession of Land Ownership Use and Possession of Land Ownership use and title use another’s services use arguments use as use as an agent use as an excuse Use As Constructed Use as Directed Use As Is Use At Your Own Risk Use Attainability Analyses use badly use before

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