Brookline Police Sgt. Douglas Barnett said Hamilton was southbound on Route 13 preparing to turn left when a truck driven by 31-year-old Greg Cullen of Milford hit the rear of her car and sent it into the northbound lane. She was then broadsided by a Ford F-250 pick-up truck driven by 37-year-old James Ciprotti of Weare. Neither man was injured.

broadside--especially AmE to crash into the side of another vehicle

ultimate lump of coal

Shop fires all workers via email
CHICAGO (CBS) — Employees of a River North sandwich shop received the ultimate lump of coal right before Christmas: They were all fired.
Santa's favorite gift for naughty boys and girls

Seventeen other Snarf’s employees also got the electronic boot.
the boot informal
when someone is forced to leave their job

under someone's thumb

Scott Brown, Couch's lead defense attorney, said the teenager could have been freed after two years if he had drawn the 20-year sentence. Instead, the judge "fashioned a sentence that could have him under the thumb of the justice system for the next 10 years," he told the Star-Telegram.

under someone's thumb
Fig. under someone's control and management.

affliction  

af·flic·tion /əˈflɪkʃən/ n [U and C] formal
something that causes pain or suffering, especially a medical condition