Idiom of the day :- Break a butterfly on a wheel

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

The ‘wheel’ was an ancient instrument of torture. It has given us this rather old expression meaning to use more force or energy than necessary to accomplish a simple task. ‘I’ve got to punish Gertrude for not studying but I don’t want to break a butterfly on a wheel by being too severe with her,’ her mother said.