They've got to come up with better cost sheets, or we threatened penalties.

Both Europe and the United States have threatened penalties if the election is determined to be undemocratic.

France has passed a stiff new law that threatens penalties of up to life in prison for some religious or racially motivated crimes.

Once established, a corporation is protected by confidentiality laws that threaten criminal penalties for anyone that discloses its business activities.

But the UK already tries to do this, threatening harsh penalties against sites like Google for "publishing" information on cases.

The European Union also stopped short of threatening penalties.

And the Bush Administration, at least in reacting to commercial abuses, has shown itself willing to threaten selective penalties.

Government agencies can also prod companies into line by threatening penalties against companies that appear to exceed the bounds of fair play.

And state environmental officials, after threatening fines and penalties, have started their latest assault on it.

He criticized the E.P.A. for threatening penalties, saying such language was "ill advised."