Expressions with the word law

Law Idioms: Every citizen of a country must follow the rules and laws of their country. Well, in the English language, there are many phrases with law that might help an individual understand the meaning behind every direction and that will help them follow it more precisely.

There are various justice idioms and idioms about rights in the English language, and sometimes it gets difficult to remember the exact meaning of each of them.

Therefore, to make it easier, this article provides you with a list of law idioms containing various legal idioms with meaning and examples.

These idioms will help one use them while holding a conversation regarding the mentioned topic.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

• Meaning and examples of few commonly used Law idioms

List of Law Idioms

• Above suspicion
• Case by case
• Under the table
• Eye for an eye
• Justice is blind
• In the eyes of the law
• Bang to rights
• Act of congress
• Before the ink is dry
• Bring someone to book
• Mend your ways
• Bail out
• Ball and chain
• Letter of the law
• The jury is out
• Open-and-shut case
• Read someone the riot act
• Case in point
• Cover your tracks
• Have a brush with something
• Burden of proof
• Face the music
• Against one’s better judgment
• In black and white
• Beyond a reasonable doubt
• Turn a blind eye
• Moot point
• Unintended consequences
• Take the Fifth
• Unwritten law
• Beat the rap
• Caught red-handed
• Bend the law
• Feather one’s nest
• Hold someone accountable for something
• Lay down the law
• Signed, sealed, and delivered
• A slap on the wrist

Meaning and examples of few commonly used law idioms

Above suspicion

Meaning: When one is not suspected of doing anything wrong since they are sincere.

Example: When the vase broke, only Ginny was above suspicion in the entire house.

Case by case

Meaning: When each case or situation is observed, examined, and declared individually without mixing everything.

Example: Everyone in the hospital was treated on a case-by-case basis, and hence things were very smooth.

Under the table

Meaning: To perform an activity privately since it is unlawful and illegal.

Example: The restaurant looked exceptionally well maintained, but they supplied drugs under the table.

Eye for an eye

Meaning: This idiom means that one should receive punishment or face the consequences in the exact manner they used for causing trouble.

Example: She broke my pencil, and therefore I broke hers as well. It was an eye for an eye.

Justice is blind

Meaning: This idiom means that justice is objective and impartial.

Example: She had two kids, but still, she was given a punishment of 5 years of jail. Justice truly is blind.

In the eyes of the law

Meaning: When something is declared to be right or wrong according to the law.

Example: Meredith knew that Alex committed the crime unintentionally, but in the eyes of the law, he was a criminal.

Bang to rights

Meaning: When one collects enough evidence against someone and can prove them guilty of a particular crime.

Example: Mark broke the traffic rules but was caught bang to rights.

Act of congress

Meaning: Something that requires immense hard work and patience.

Example: Completing an English project is indeed an act of congress.

Before the ink is dry

Meaning: When an agreement is made but is broken very quickly.

Example: The group of enemies agreed to live peacefully and not harm each other, but then two started fighting even before the ink was dry.

Bring someone to book

Meaning: When one is either punished for something they have done or explained that their behaviour was wrong.

Example: After Will was caught cheating on the test, his class teacher brought him to a book.

Mend your ways

Meaning: To make some good changes in one’s behaviour.

Example: My class teacher asked me to mend my ways to stay in the school.

Bail out

Meaning: Stop doing something or getting out of something.

Example: Justin bailed out of our Science project just at the last time.

Ball and chain

Meaning: This idiom describes someone or something that removes one’s freedom and stops them from doing something.

Example: Molly’s homework acted as her ball and chain and refrained her from going out with her friends.

The letter of the law

Meaning: When one acts precisely according to the writing of the law without trying to understand the spirit of the law.

Example: We all know that she’s the principal’s daughter, but still, we need to stick to the letter of the law and not give her any special treatment.

The jury is out

Meaning: This idiom states that the decision has not yet been taken, and hence nothing is still evident.

Example: We should not accuse him of the murder since the jury is still out.

Open-and-shut case

Meaning: A legal case that is solved and closed quickly without putting much effort since the proofs are evident.

Example: The car accident was declared as an open-and-shut by the court.

Read someone the riot act

Meaning: To warn and scold someone because of something they have done.

Example: The neighbour read Harry the riot act after he broke their window glasses while playing baseball.

Case in point

Meaning: A sample or example of something that is being talked about or discussed.

Example: Being on your top behaviour when you are in school is extremely important. Jessica is the perfect case in point.

Cover your tracks

Meaning: Hide proofs, evidence, whereabouts, intentions, and activities of someone from a respective individual or a group of individuals.

Example: Nobody knew where Johnson went after high school. He covered his tracks well.

Have a brush with something

Meaning: Come across or have a conflict with someone or something.

Example: The thief had a brush with the police, and yet he managed to escape.

Burden of proof

Meaning: When one is obligated to prove themselves or someone else correct by providing evidence and proof.

Example: Gina claimed to see ghosts in her house, but her friends disbelieved her. Hence, she had the burden of proof actually to prove herself correct.

Face the music

Meaning: Receive the consequences of something one has done.

Example: After escaping for years, the convict finally faced the music and was caught by the police.

Against one’s better judgment

Meaning: When one has second thoughts about a particular thing or knows that doing a sure thing is not correct.

Example: Troy allowed Peter to join the basketball team against his better judgment.

In black and white

Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where right and wrong can be understood clearly.

Example: After collecting the murder weapon, the entire murder case was in black and white.

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Meaning: Without any second thoughts and doubt.

Example: She was extremely passionate about dancing and pursued it as a career beyond a reasonable doubt.

Turn a blind eye

Meaning: When one ignores the happenings of a particular activity, knowing that it is wrong.

Example: The new student was getting bullied, but Georgia turned a blind eye to it.

Moot point

Meaning: A topic or situation that is open for debate and discussion.

Example: His sincerity regarding the relationship was a moot point from the beginning.

Unintended consequences

Meaning: This idiom means that there are specific actions that have unwanted and unintended consequences.

Example: The law proposed by the government had unintended consequences since instead of reducing suicidal cases, it ended up increasing.

Take the Fifth

Meaning: When one refuses to testify against an individual in court.

Example: When Clara was asked to testify against Jordan, she took the fifth.

Unwritten law

Meaning: A rule or law that is known and followed publicly but has no written evidence.

Example: Not bringing cake to celebrate birthday in school was an unwritten law, but Phyllis had no idea about it and ended up getting one.

Beat the rap

Meaning: When one escapes punishment.

Example: The murderer again beat the rap and escaped from the hands of the police officer.

Caught red-handed

Meaning: Discover and catch someone while doing something wrong or illegal.

Example: Cathy was caught red-handed while cheating in the exam.

Bend the law

Meaning: To change or alter the rules in such a way that will not cause any harm to anyone.

Example: The politician decided to bend the law a little bit for his gain.

Feather one’s nest

Meaning: This phrase is used when one makes money for themselves in some selfish way.

Example: Damon decided to feather his nest by blackmailing the mayor of the town.

Hold someone accountable for something

Meaning: To blame someone or consider someone responsible for something that has happened to an individual.

Example: Joshua held his friend accountable for stealing his car since he was the one who borrowed it.

Lay down the law

Meaning: To instruct people on what is to be done without getting concerned about their views.

Example: When Robert argued that his way of completing the project was correct, I had no option but to lay down the laws and show them to him.

Signed, sealed, and delivered

Meaning: When an agreement is satisfactorily completed.

Example: The deal regarding the selling of the house was signed, sealed, and delivered.

A slap on the wrist

Meaning: When one is given a minor punishment instead of providing a more severe punishment.

Example: The traffic police slapped Richard on the wrist for breaking the rules and let him go since his mother was hospitalized and he was genuinely in a hurry.

Recommended textbook solutions

• abide by a decision

  придерживаться решения суда

  The construction company had to abide by the decision of the court.

• act of God

  форс-мажор (события, происходящие по естественным причинам: землетрясения, наводнения и т.д.)

  An avalanche in the mountains was an act of God.

• after the fact

  после свершившегося

  They were told, after the fact, that the insurance company would not pay to rebuild the house.
• as sober as a judge

  (быть) трезвым как стёклышко

  When the traffic police stopped Mike, he swore he was as sober as a judge.

• assemble a case (against someone)

  собрать доказательства против кого-либо

  There was not enough evidence, so the prosecution was unable to assemble a case against the man.

• assume liability

  принимать на себя ответственность за понесённые убытки

  The construction company refused to assume liability for damaging the house by incautious actions.

• at arm’s length

  сделка (на расстоянии) через посредника

  I bought an apartment at arm’s length and was not involved in any management decisions.

• at the mercy of (the court/someone)

  в полной власти, не имея защиты против (кого-либо чего-либо)

  The sea was stormy and the ship was at the mercy of the huge waves.

• bail (someone) out

  брать на поруки, вносить залог

  The parents of the young delinquent had to pay much money to bail him out of prison.

• beat the rap

  избежать наказания

  Having hired a sophisticated lawyer, Jeremy was able to beat the rap.

• beyond a reasonable doubt

  почти наверняка, вне всякого сомнения

  The judge told the jurors to come up with a verdict of guilty only if they were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt the man had committed the crime.

• bona fide

  без обмана, честно

  I could not very well believe that they made a bona fide effort to solve the dispute.

• breach of promise

  нарушение обещания или соглашения

  Mr. Paderevski was accused of a breach of promise when he broke the contract to buy the house.
• breach of the peace

  нарушение общественного порядка и спокойствия

  My neighbors were charged with a breach of the peace because they were playing loud music late at night.

• break the law

  нарушить закон

  They found out that Marcia had broken the law, and she was sacked.

• build a case (against someone)

  собирать доказательства для возбуждения уголовного дела

  It was evident that Rick Thunder was guilty, yet they couldn’t build a case against him.

• burden of proof

  бремя доказательства; необходимость доказать оспариваемый факт

  Georgina had accused Jack of swindling and the burden of proof fell on her during the trial.

• case of mistaken identity

  ошибочное опознание

  Celesta didn’t do anything wrong; hers was a case of mistaken identity.

• cast doubt on (someone or something)

  поставить под сомнение что-либо

  The evidence presented by a witness of the crime cast doubt on the truthfulness of her testimony.

• causing a disturbance

  нарушение общественного порядка

  A few baseball fans were arrested for causing a disturbance after the game.

• caveat emptor

  принцип торговли, заключающийся в том, что покупатель несёт ответственность за проверку качества приобретаемого товара

  Caveat emptor is a good conception to remember when you are buying secondhand goods.

• circumstantial evidence

  косвенные доказательства или улики

  Jeremy thought he wouldn’t be convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence only.

• citizen’s arrest

  арест без ордера

  The shopkeeper made a citizen’s arrest of a shoplifter.

• civil action

  (подать) гражданский иск

  Ms. Brownbread took civil action over her complaint about her neighbors’ trespassing.

• civil law

  гражданское право

  Civil law deals with private matters but not with criminal cases.

• class action lawsuit

  судебный процесс в интересах группы пострадавших людей

  The miners decided to file a class action lawsuit against the owners of coal mines for damage to their health.

• clear (someone’s) name

  доказать чью-либо невиновность

  Molly Morgan had to go to court in order to clear her name of the false charges.
• come by (something) honestly

  честно получить что-либо

  Gordon Brown came by a large inheritance honestly, but some of his friends didn’t believe him.

• come clean (with someone/about something)

  признаться в чём-либо, быть честным с кем-либо относительно чего-либо

  I decided to come clean with my friend about using his computer without his permission.

• come down hard on (someone)

  жестоко наказывать кого-либо, бранить

  He couldn’t believe that they would come down hard on him. He hadn’t committed the crime they accused him of.

• commercial law

  торговое право

  After I graduate the university I would like to practice in commercial law.
• common law

  общее право, неписаный закон

  Common law is mostly based on custom and court decisions of the past.
• common property

  общая собственность (жителей)

  Parks in London are common property and anyone can use them.

• community property

  общее имущество супругов

  My husband and I decided to give some of our community property to our children.

• comparative negligence

  неосторожность, халатность обеих сторон, преступная оплошность

  The traffic police determined that it was a case of comparative negligence for both the drivers and they both were responsible for the damage of their cars.

закон, право, юриспруденция, суд, заповеди, законный, правовой, юридический

существительное ↓

глагол

- разг. обращаться в суд
- диал., разг. навязывать свою волю

прилагательное ↓

Словосочетания

Примеры с переводом

Возможные однокоренные слова

lawful  — законный, правомерный
lawless  — беззаконный, непокорный, необузданный, неправомерный
outlaw  — вне закона, разбойник, изгой, незаконный
inlaw  — восстановить в правах, о том, вернуть ссыльному политические и
unlaw  — правонарушение, денежный штраф

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): law
мн. ч.(plural): laws

If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law.

If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg—tm work.

Moreover, the great limitations of the Constitution, which forbid the majority, or even the whole body of the House and Senate, to pass laws either for want of authority or because they impair fundamental rights of individuals, are as emphatic a negation of an absolute democracy as can be found in any form of government.

Sir, there are Men enough, fitter much than I, to obey those Laws; nor do I think them made for every one.

They have broken a law,« answered one of the natives.

But he disliked commerce, and finally persuaded his father to allow him to study law for two years at the University of Naples, during which period the lively and attractive youth made brisk use of his leisure time in that gay and romantic city, where he made his way into the highest circles of society, and unconsciously gleaned the material for the rich harvest of song and story that came with his later years.

OLIVER DYER, of the Sun, is the original «Dyer Necessity that knows no law.

Against this pestilent and abandoned race of men, most civilized countries have enacted penal laws.

As in England, the immediate question affected the power of the Crown to give to the customs inspectors the power to make general searches and seizures, to enforce the navigation laws.

He has no army, no treasury, no patronage; he merely executes the laws.

By this time I‘d brought my rifle to bear upon the gentleman, but I gave him a little law, to see what his next move would be.

« «God will bless you for making those wise laws,« said Mary.

She was a woman who never stopped talking for a single moment, but in a way that resembled leaking rather than laying down the law.

Three thousand engraved plates of brass containing these various laws were deposited in the capitol.

It had been intended that Havelock should follow the law as a profession; and he was studying with this end in view when his father stopped the necessary supplies of money, and he had to turn to some other occupation for a living.

He remained at Williamsburg, and managed to pick up a scanty practice as an attorney, for he had read a little law in want of something better to do, and to fit himself for his coming honors as a member of the House of Burgesses.

The Prince has fulfilled his promise to you; has repealed the law that was to be a weapon in the hands that aimed at his life and throne, as at the Star and its children.

Should I find the law in shape to deal with it?

I will establish honest laws of trade.

It required some self—denial to observe this law, but we kept it with tolerable strictness.

To prevent the tribunes from carrying their law, the younger patricians thronged to the assemblies and interfered with all proceedings; Terentilius, they said, was endeavoring to confound all distinction between the orders.

The university leader of the future is the man who shall set laws over household accounts and who shall rule over such simple things as what best to eat and buy.

He had been sent by Germain ‘to administer justice to the Canadians when he understands neither their laws, manners, customs, nor language.‘

Removed far above the majority of his fellow—villagers in intelligence and energy, this man administered the law of his own will to his colleagues on the village council.

Augustine was born at Tagaste, or Tagastum, near Carthage, in the Numidian province of the Roman Empire, in the year 354,a province rich, cultivated, luxurious, where the people (at least the educated classes) spoke the Latin language, and had adopted the Roman laws and institutions.