abduct verb [ T ]
to force someone to go somewhere with you, often using threats or violence
The company director was abducted from his car by terrorists.
abductor noun [ C ]
She was tortured by her abductors.
abduction noun [ C or U ]
There has been a series of abductions of young children from schools in the area.
He was charged with abduction.
abettor noun [ C ]
abscond verb [ I ] STEAL
2. to go away suddenly and secretly because you have stolen something, usually money
They absconded with £10 000 of the company's money.
absolve verb [ T ] formal
(especially in religion or law) to free someone from guilt , blame or responsibility for something
The report absolved her from/of all blame for the accident.
The priest absolved him ( of all his sins).
accessory noun CRIMINAL
2. [ C ] someone who helps another person to commit a crime but does not take part in it
an accessory to murder
accomplice noun [ C ]
a person who helps someone else to commit a crime or to do something morally wrong
accuse verb [ T ]
1. to say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal or unkind
"It wasn't my fault." "Don't worry, I'm not accusing you."
He's been accused of robbery/murder.
Are you accusing me of ly ing ?
The surgeon was accused of negligence.
acquit verb -tt-
1. [ T often passive ] to decide officially in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a particular crime
7. legal to give property, money or rights using a legal process
to illegally make, copy or sell something
assail verb formal
1. [ T ] to attack someone violently or criticize someone strongly
The victim had been assailed with repeated blows to the head and body.
He was assailed with insults and abuse as he left the court.
assailant noun [ C ] formal
a person who attacks another person
Can you describe your assailant?
assassin noun [ C ]
someone who kills a famous or important person usually for political reasons or in exchange for money
John Lennon's assassin was Mark Chapman.
She hired an assassin to eliminate her rival.
assassinate verb [ T ]
to kill someone famous or important
a plot to assassinate the Queen
assassination noun [ C or U ]
the murder of someone famous or important
an assassination attempt
the assassination of the opposition leader
assault noun
1. [ C or U ] a violent attack
He was charged with sexual assault.
UK The number of indecent assaults has increased alarmingly over the past year.
an assault on a police officer
They launched an assault on the capital yesterday.
assault verb [ T ]
to attack someone violently
A woman and a man have been convicted of assaulting a police officer.
He had attempted to sexually assault the woman.
assign verb [ T ] GIVE LEGALLY
blackmailer noun [ C ]
blameless adjective
not responsible for anything bad
It was mainly my fault, but she wasn't entirely blameless.
blameworthy adjective formal
having done something wrong
bludgeon verb [ T ]
1. to hit someone hard and repeatedly with a heavy weapon
The two boys had been mercilessly bludgeoned to death .
bobby noun [ C ] UK old-fashioned informal
a police officer
People liked seeing their friendly local/neighbourhood bobby on his beat.
bond noun PROMISE
4. [ C ] US legal a sum of money that is paid to formally promise that someone accused of a crime and being kept in prison will appear for trial if released
The judge ordered that he post a $10 000 bond pending his appeal of the verdict.
book verb MAKE A RECORD
2. [ T ] If a police officer, referee , etc. books someone, they write down their name in an official record because they have done something wrong
A player in a football match who is booked twice in a game is sent off the field.
My grandmother was booked for speeding last week.
bookable adjective RECORD
2. A bookable offence (= something you do wrong) is one that a police officer or referee , etc. can book you for, by writing down your name in an official record.
boot noun WHEEL
5. [ C ] ( also Denver boot ) US a wheel clamp
bootleg adjective ILLEGAL
1. illegally made, copied or sold
bootleg CDs/liquor
bootleg verb [ I or T ] -gg-
canon noun STANDARD
2. [ C usually plural ] formal or specialized a rule, principle or law, especially in the Christian Church
canonical adjective
caper noun ACTIVITY
1. [ C ] an illegal, unusual or entertaining activity
The whole incident started as an innocent caper.
ˌ capital ˈ punishment noun [ U ] ( also the death penalty )
punishment by death, as ordered by a legal system
captive noun [ C ]
1. a person or animal whose ability to move or act freely is limited by being closed in a space; a prisoner, especially a person held by the enemy during a war
When the town was recaptured, we found soldiers who had been captives for several years.
captive adjective
captive soldiers
captivity noun [ U ]
when a person or animal is kept somewhere and is not allowed to leave
All the hostages, when released from captivity, looked remarkably fit and well.
Animals bred in captivity would probably not survive if they were released into the wild.
carjacking noun [ C or U ]
the crime of stealing someone's car while they are in it by using physical force or threats
carjacker noun [ C ]
case noun PROBLEM
10. [ C ] a problem, a series of events or a person being dealt with by police, doctors, lawyers, etc.
Several social workers have looked into the child's case.
The detective on the case (= responsible for solving it) has been suspended from duty.
When he first went for treatment at the hospital he seemed to be a hopeless case (= a person who could not be cured) .
case noun PROBLEM
11. [ C ] legal a matter to be decided by a judge in a court of law
The tobacco companies may be guilty of contempt of court for refusing to produce the documents.
1. someone who has done something wrong
to remove the stomach and bowels from a dead animal, or to kill a person in this way, especially in the past as a punishment
Is exhibit C the weapon which you say was used?
2. in a court of law, one member of the jury who is chosen
groper
against the law; not allowed by law
Several innocent bystanders were injured in the explosion.
a person who is not a lawyer but who acts as a judg
compulsory adjective
If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law
Swimming was compulsory at my school.
Wearing seat belts in cars is compulsory by law.
compulsorily adverb
Patients can now be compulsorily detained in hospital only under tightly drawn criteria.
con noun PRISONER
3. [ C ] slang a convict
condemned adjective PERSON
1. A condemned person is someone who is going to be killed, especially as a punishment for having committed a very serious crime, such as murder.
confine verb
2. [ T usually passive ] to keep someone closed in a place, often by force
The hostages had been confined for so long that they couldn't cope with the outside world.
confinement noun
1. [ U ] when a person or animal is kept somewhere, usually by force
She spent most of those years under house arrest or close confinement.
ˈ con ˌ man , conman noun [ C ]
a con artist
constable noun [ C ]
a British police officer of the lowest rank
constabulary noun [ C + sing/pl verb ]
the British police force for a particular area
constitutionality noun [ U ] US
the quality of being allowed by or contained in a constitution
The judge chose to ignore questions of the constitutionality of the Senator's actions.
contempt noun [ U ] NOT OBEYING
3. ( also contempt of court ) legal behaviour that is illegal because it does not obey or respect the rules of a law court
criminality noun [ U ]
criminally adverb
criminology noun [ U ]
the scientific study of crime and criminals
criminologist noun [ C ]
someone who studies crime and criminals
crook noun CRIMINAL
1. [ C ] informal a very dishonest person, especially a criminal or a cheat
These politicians are just a bunch of crooks.
crucifixion noun
[ C or U ] when someone is crucified
crucify verb [ T ]
1. to kill someone by tying or fastening them with nails to a cross and leaving them there to die
crucify verb [ T ]
2. informal to severely punish or damage someone or something
He's going to crucify me when he finds out what I've done!
cuff verb [ T ] HANDCUFFS
2. informal to put someone's hands in handcuffs
He was led out of the dock with his hands cuffed behind his back.
culpable adjective formal
deserving to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad
He was held culpable (= blamed) for all that had happened.
culpability noun [ U ]
After the accident, the company refused to accept culpability.
culpably adverb
culprit noun [ C ]
detention noun
2. [ C or U ] a form of punishment in which school children are made to stay at school for a short time after classes have ended
She's had four detentions this term.
dick noun [ C ] PERSON
3. US old-fashioned informal a detective (= someone whose job is to discover facts about a crime)
a private dick
diktat noun [ C or U ] disapproving
an order which must be obeyed, or when you give such an order
The coach issued a diktat that all team members must attend early-morning practice.
The occupying force ruled by diktat.
di ˌ minished responsi ˈ bility noun [ U ] ( US diminished capacity ) legal
the condition in which someone's mental state, etc. causes them not to be in full control of their actions
The accused pleaded not guilty on grounds of diminished responsibility.
disbar verb [ T ] -rr- legal
to make someone unable to continue working as a lawyer, especially because they have done something wrong
discharge verb ALLOW TO LEAVE
1. [ T ] to allow someone officially to leave somewhere, especially a hospital or a court of law
Patients were discharged from hospital because the beds were needed by other people.
A peace protester was conditionally discharged for twelve months (= allowed to go free only if they do not commit a crime again for this period of time) .
More than half of all prisoners discharged (= allowed to leave prison) are reconvicted within two years.
discharge noun PERMISSION TO LEAVE
1. [ C or U ] official permission to leave the armed forces, a prison or a hospital
The judge gave him a one-year conditional discharge.
The soldier received a dishonourable discharge for a disciplinary offence.
discipline verb PUNISH
1. [ T ] to punish someone
A senior civil servant has been disciplined for revealing secret government plans to the media.
disembowel verb [ T ] -ll- or US USUALLY -l-
escort noun GO WITH
4. [ U ] the state of having someone with you who gives you protection or guards you
The prisoners were transported under military escort.
example noun [ C ] PUNISHMENT
5. (a person who receives) a punishment which is intended to warn others against doing the thing that is being punished
The judge made an example of him and gave him the maximum possible sentence.
excommunicate verb [ T ]
When the Christian Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church, excommunicates someone, it refuses to give them communion and does not allow them to be involved in the Church.
excommunication noun [ C or U ]
exculpate verb [ T ] formal
to remove blame from someone
The pilot of the aircraft will surely be exculpated when all the facts are known.
exculpatory adjective
execute verb [ T ] KILL
1. to kill someone as a legal punishment
He was executed for murder.
execution noun KILLING
1. [ C or U ] when someone is killed as a legal punishment
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The executions will be carried out by a firing squad.
executioner noun [ C ]
someone whose job is to execute criminals
executor noun [ C ] legal
someone who makes sure that things are done according to the wishes in a dead person's will
exhibit noun [ C ]
2. legal a thing used as evidence (= proof that something is true) in a trial
flagellation noun [ U ]
flasher noun [ C ] informal
someone who shows their sexual organs in public
flay verb [ T ]
2. to whip a person or animal so hard that some of their skin comes off
figurative The critics really flayed (= severely criticized) his new book.
flog verb [ T ] -gg- PUNISH
1. to beat someone very hard with a whip or a stick, as a punishment
Soldiers used to be flogged for disobedience.
flogging noun [ C or U ]
a punishment in which someone is beaten severely with a whip or a stick
flout verb [ T ]
to intentionally not obey a rule, law, or custom
Many motorcyclists flout the law by not wearing helmets.
The orchestra decided to flout convention/tradition , and wear their everyday clothes for the concert.
flyposting noun [ U ] UK
illegally sticking a political or other poster (= notice) on a public wall, fence, etc.
flyposter noun [ C ]
a person who goes flyposting or the poster (= notice) they put up
Flyposters will be prosecuted.
follow verb OBEY
5. [ T ] to obey or to act as ordered by someone
Follow the instructions on the back of the packet carefully.
I decided to follow her advice and go to bed early.
Muslims follow the teachings of the Koran.
foreman noun [ C ] PERSON AT WORK
1. specialized a skilled person with experience who is in charge of and watches over a group of workers
foreman noun [ C ] IN A COURT OF LAW
GBH noun [ U ]
abbreviation for grievous bodily harm
genocide noun [ U ]
the murder of a whole group of people, especially a whole nation, race or religious group
victims of genocide
genocidal adjective
a genocidal war/regime
gibbet noun [ C ]
a wooden structure from which criminals were hung, in the past, as a form of execution (= killing as a punishment)
give verb gave , given PROVIDE
6. [ T ] to punish someone by making them go to prison for a particular period
[ + two objects ] If you're found guilty, they'll give you three years.
godfather noun [ C ]
2. the leader of a criminal group, especially a mafia family
goon noun [ C ] CRIMINAL
2. US informal a violent criminal who is paid to hurt or threaten people
graft noun INFLUENCE
3. [ U ] mainly US the act of getting money or advantage through the dishonest use of political power and influence
The whole government was riddled with graft, bribery, and corruption.
grass noun PERSON
3. [ C ] UK slang a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police about other criminals' activities
ˌ grievous bodily ˈ harm noun [ U ] ( abbreviation GBH ) UK legal
a crime in which one person does serious physical injury to another
groom verb [ T ] SEX
3. to become friends with a child, especially over the Internet, in order to try to persuade them to have a sexual relationship with you
grooming noun [ U ] SEX
2. the criminal activity of becoming friends with a child, especially over the Internet, in order to try to persuade the child to have a sexual relationship with you
horsewhip verb [ T ] -pp-
to hit someone with a whip
hostage noun [ C ]
someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants
She was taken/held hostage by the gunmen.
The terrorists have seized 20 hostages and are threatening to kill one a day unless their demands are met.
hot adjective hotter , hottest STOLEN
9. slang describes goods that have been recently stolen and are therefore difficult to sell or dangerous to deal with because the police are still looking for them
housebreaker noun [ C ]
a person who illegally enters a house in order to steal something
housebreaking noun [ U ]
hung adjective
having an equal or nearly equal number of members with opposing opinions, so that no decisions can be made
The general election in Britain was expected to result in a hung parliament .
a hung jury
hustler noun [ C ] mainly US informal
1. someone who tries to deceive people into giving them money
ice verb [ T ] KILL
2. US slang to murder someone
Identikit noun [ C ] UK trademark
a picture of the face of someone who the police want to question, usually because that person is thought to have been involved in a crime. The picture is made from a collection of drawings of noses, eyes, ears, etc. and is based on the descriptions of witnesses to the crime
an Identikit picture
Police have issued an Identikit of the man they want to question.
i ˈ dentity pa ˌ rade noun [ C ] UK ( US lineup )
a row of people, including a person who is believed to have committed a crime, who are shown to a witness (= person who saw the crime) to find out whether the witness recognises that person
illegal adjective
inherit verb FROM DEAD PERSON
1. [ I or T ] to receive money, a house, etc. from someone after they have died
Who will inherit the house when he dies?
All her children will inherit equally.
inheritance noun [ C usually singular U ] FROM DEAD PERSON
1. money or objects that someone gives you when they die
The large inheritance from his aunt meant that he could buy his own boat.
At twenty-one she came into her inheritance (= it was given to her) .
inheritor noun [ C ]
a person who has been given something by someone who is dead
figurative We are the inheritors of Greek and Roman culture.
injunction noun [ C ]
an official order given by a court of law, usually to stop someone from doing something
[ + to infinitive ] The court has issued an injunction to prevent the airline from increasing its prices.
[ + -ing verb ] She is seeking an injunction bann ing the newspaper from publishing the photographs.
inmate noun [ C ]
a person who is kept in a prison or a hospital for people who are mentally ill
innocence noun [ U ]
when someone is not guilty of a crime, or does not have much experience of life and does not know about the bad things that happen in life
She pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.
He was led away, protesting his innocence (= saying he was not guilty) .
She has a child-like innocence which I find very appealing.
innocent adjective
1. (of a person) not guilty of a particular crime, or having no knowledge of the unpleasant and evil things in life, or (of a thing) not intended to harm anyone
He firmly believes that she is innocent of the crime.
She has such an innocent face that I find it hard to believe anything bad of her.
It was an innocent remark, I didn't mean to hurt his feelings.
innocent adjective
2. An innocent person is someone who is not involved with any military group or war
jurisdiction noun [ U ]
the authority of an official organization to make and deal with especially legal decisions
The court has no jurisdiction in/over cases of this kind.
School admissions are not under/within our jurisdiction.
jurist noun [ C ] specialized
an expert in law, especially a judge
juror , old use juryman noun [ C ]
a member of a jury
jury noun [ C + sing/pl verb ]
1. a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty, or whether a claim has been proved
members of the jury
The jury has/have been unable to return a verdict (= reach a decision) .
Police officers aren't usually allowed to be/sit/serve on a jury.
ˈ jury ˌ service noun [ U ] UK ( US jury duty )
a period of time when a person is a member of a jury
I'm on/doing jury service next week.
justice noun LAW
2. [ U ] the system of laws in a country which judges and punishes people
the justice system in this country consists of a series of law courts at different levels.
The police are doing all they can to bring those responsible for the bombing to justice.
They are victims of a miscarriage of justice (= when the law has been carried out wrongly) .
He has been accused of obstructing the course of justice (= preventing the law being put into action) .
justice noun JUDGE
3. [ C ] US a judge in a court of law
The President is expected to name a new Supreme Court justice within the next few days.
Justice Ben Overton
justice noun JUDGE
4. [ C ] UK used before the name of a judge in the High Court
Mr Justice Ellis
ˌ Justice of the ˈ Peace noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation P )
legalistic adjective disapproving
giving too much attention to legal rules and details
legalistically adverb
legality noun [ U ]
1. the fact that something is allowed by the law
Six journalists sought to challenge in court the legality of the ban on broadcasting.
legally adverb
as stated by the law
Children under sixteen are not legally allowed to buy cigarettes.
legislation noun [ U ]
a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament
[ + to infinitive ] The government has promised to introduce legislation to limit fuel emissions from cars.
legit adjective [ after verb ] informal
legitimate
I'm not getting involved in this fund-raising scheme if it isn't legit.
legitimacy noun [ U ]
the quality of being legal or acceptable
The government expressed serious doubts about the legitimacy of military action.
legitimate adjective
1. allowed by law
The army must give power back to the legitimate government.
legitimate adjective
2. reasonable and acceptable
He claimed that the restaurant bill was a legitimate business expense.
legitimately adverb
Most foreign visitors to Britain enter the country legitimately (= legally) .
liberate verb [ T ]
2. humorous to steal something
She liberated those spoons from a restau
a martyred saint
nullify verb [ T ]
plunder
protocol noun RULES
The oil company was found guilty on ten counts of pollution, and was punished with a $250 million fine.
The residue ( of the estate) went to her granddaughter.
the holy laws of Islam, which cover all parts of a Mu
She was fined for speeding last month.
[ + that ] He testified that he had seen the
an undercover detective
whip verb -pp- HIT
in Britain, the police officer in charge of the po
malefactor noun [ C ] formal
a person who does bad or illegal things
malfeasance noun [ U ] legal
an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority
Several cases of malpractice and malfeasance in the financial world are currently being investigated.
malpractice noun [ U ] specialized
failure to act correctly or legally when doing your job, often causing injury or loss
They are accused of medical/financial/electoral malpractice.
mandatory adjective formal
describes something which must be done, or which is demanded by law
The minister is calling for mandatory prison sentences for people who assault police officers.
Athletes must undergo a mandatory drugs test before competing in the championship.
In 1991, the British government made it mandatory to wear rear seat belts in cars.
manhunt noun [ C ]
an organized search for a person, especially a criminal
The police have launched a manhunt after the body of a six-year-old boy was found last night.
manslaughter noun [ U ] legal
the crime of killing a person by someone who did not intend to do it or who cannot be responsible for their actions
She was sentenced to five years imprisonment for manslaughter.
He denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
marauder noun [ C ]
a person or animal that goes from one place to another looking for something to kill or steal
marshal noun [ C ] LAW
2. US a government official who is responsible for putting the decisions of a law court into action
US marshals specialize in finding fugitives and escapees.
martyr verb [ T often passive ]
to kill someone because of their religious or political beliefs
martyred adjective
1. A martyred person has been killed because of their religious or political beliefs
narcoterrorism noun [ U ]
violent criminal actions relating to the trade in illegal drugs
nark noun [ C ] CRIMINAL
1. UK old-fashioned slang a person, especially a criminal, who gives the police information about other criminals
a coppers' nark
nark noun [ C ] POLICE OFFICER
2. ( also narc ) US slang a police officer whose job is to catch people who produce, sell or use illegal drugs
necklace verb [ T ]
to kill someone by putting a burning rubber tyre around their neck
necklacing noun [ C ]
netherworld noun [ S ]
a place, situation or part of society which is hidden, and often unpleasant
The film shows us a netherworld of drugs and crime.
nick verb [ T ] STEAL
1. UK informal to steal something
I've had my bike nicked again.
All right, who's nicked my ruler?
nick verb [ T ] CATCH
2. UK slang If the police nick someone, they catch them for committing a crime
They nicked him for driving at seventy in a fifty speed limit area.
nobble verb [ T ] UK slang PERSUADE
2. to persuade someone to do what you want them to do, especially by using money or threats
The jury who convicted him were suspected of being nobbled.
nonce noun [ C ] slang
a person who commits a crime involving sex, especially sex with a child
noose noun
1. [ C ] one end of a rope tied to form a circle which can be tightened round something such as a person's neck to hang (= kill) them
They put him on the back of a horse and looped a noose around his neck.
pirate noun [ C ] SAILOR
1. a person who sails in a ship and attacks other ships in order to steal from them
pirate noun [ C ] COPYING
2. a person who illegally copies music, films, computer programs, etc, and sells them
software pirates
piratical adjective formal
pirate verb [ T ]
to illegally copy a computer program, music, a film, etc. and sell it
pirated adjective
a pirated video
pirated software
plagiarize , UK usually plagiarise verb [ I or T ]
to use another person's idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own
The book contains numerous plagiarized passages.
If you compare the two books side by side, it is clear that the author of the second has plagiarized ( from the first).
plagiarism noun [ U ]
plagiarist noun [ C ]
plaintiff noun [ C ] legal
someone who makes a legal complaint against someone else in court
plea noun [ C ] STATEMENT
2. legal the answer that a person gives in court when they have been accused of committing a crime
Mr Wilson entered a plea of not guilty.
plead verb pleaded or US ALSO pled , pleaded or US ALSO pled STATE
2. [ I L only + adjective T ] formal to make a statement of what you believe to be true, especially in support of something or someone or when someone has been accused in a law court
legal The defendant pleaded not guilty/innocent to robbery with violence.
legal They paid a high-powered attorney to plead their case (= argue for them in court) .
legal The judge ruled her unfit to plead (= to answer a legal charge) on the grounds of insanity.
pled US and Scottish English
past simple and past participle of plead
probation noun [ U ]
1. a period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison
He was fined and given two years' probation.
The judge put him on probation for two years.
He served a year in prison and was then let out on probation.
probationer noun [ C ]
1. a criminal on probation
proceedings plural noun LEGAL ACTION
3. legal legal action
Allegations of sexual harassment have led to disciplinary proceedings being taken against three naval officers.
I started/took legal proceedings to try to have him taken away from his parents permanently.
procurer noun [ C ] formal
a person who finds prostitutes for people who want to have sex with them
profiling noun [ U ]
the activity of collecting information about someone, especially a criminal, in order to give a description of them
property noun THINGS OWNED
3. [ U ] specialized the legal right to own and use something
prosecute verb LEGAL
1. [ I or T ] to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime
Shoplifters will be prosecuted.
He was prosecuted for fraud.
Any manufacturer who does not conform to the standards could be prosecuted under the Consumers Protection Act, 1987.
The victim has said that she will not prosecute.
prosecution noun LEGAL
1. [ C or U ] when someone is prosecuted
A number of the cases have resulted in successful prosecution.
Doctors guilty of neglect are liable to prosecution.
prosecutor noun [ C ]
a legal representative who officially accuses someone of committing a crime, especially in a court of law
provide verb LAW
2. [ + that ] formal (of a law or decision) to state that something must happen if particular conditions exist
Section 17 provides that all decisions must be circulated in writing.
provision noun LAW
4. [ C ] a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must happen or be done, especially before another can happen or be done
We have inserted certain provisions into the treaty to safeguard foreign workers.
[ + that ] She accepted the job with the provision that she would be paid expenses for relocating.
prowler noun [ C ]
someone who moves around quietly in a place, trying not to be seen, often before committing a crime
psycho ˌ logical ˈ profiling noun [ U ] ( specialized offender profiling )
punish verb [ T ] CRIME
1. to cause someone who has done something wrong or committed a crime to suffer, by hurting them, forcing them to pay money, sending them to prison, etc
Those responsible for these crimes must be brought to court and punished.
He punished the class by giv ing them extra work.
regulation noun [ C or U ]
an official rule or the act of controlling
safety/health/traffic/fire/security regulations
The correct procedure is laid down in the rules and regulations.
government regulation of inflation
remand verb [ T often passive ] legal
1. to send someone accused of committing a crime away from court until their trial begins
He was remanded on theft charges.
The accused was remanded in custody (= kept in prison before the trial began) for a week.
remand noun [ U ]
1. legal when someone is remanded
remission noun REDUCTION
2. [ U ] UK legal a reduction of the time that a person has to stay in prison
He was given three months' remission for good behaviour.
remit verb [ T ] -tt- REDUCE
1. UK legal to reduce a period of time that someone must spend in prison
She has had part of her sentence remitted.
His prison sentence was remitted to two years.
representation noun ACTING FOR
1. [ U ] when someone speaks, acts, or is present officially for someone else
Can he afford legal representation?
reprieve noun [ C ]
1. an official order that stops or delays the punishment, especially by death, of a prisoner
He was sentenced to death but was granted a last-minute reprieve.
reprieve verb [ T ]
1. to stop or delay the punishment, especially by death, of a prisoner
residue noun [ C usually singular ]
2. legal the part of a dead person's money and property that is left after taxes, debts, etc. have been paid
sentence noun [ C ] PUNISHMENT
2. a punishment given by a judge in court to a person or organization after they have been found guilty of doing something wrong
He got a heavy/light sentence (= He was severely/not severely punished) .
The offence carries a jail/prison/life/5-year sentence.
He was given a non-custodial/suspended sentence.
sentence verb [ T ] legal
to decide and say officially what a punishment will be
He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
separation noun
2. [ C or U ] an arrangement, often legal, by which two married people stop living together as husband and wife
Couples may agree to divorce each other after a separation.
They're considering separation as an option.
sequester verb [ T ] KEEP SEPARATE
2. US legal to keep a jury together in a place so that they cannot discuss the case with other people or read or hear news reports about it
sequestration noun [ U ] legal
sergeant noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation Sgt , informal sarge ) POLICE OFFICER
2. in Britain, a police officer whose rank is above constable and below inspector , or in the US a police officer whose rank is below a captain
serve verb GIVE DOCUMENT
9. [ T ] legal to give a legal document to someone, demanding that they go to a court of law or that they obey an order
Less than two weeks ago Gough finally served a writ on Slater, claiming damages for alleged loss of royalties.
Each person served with a summons will be given six weeks before they have to appear in the Magistrates' Court.
settlement noun AGREE
2. [ C ] an arrangement to end a disagreement involving a law having been broken, without taking it to a court of law, or an amount of money paid as part of such an arrangement
They reached an out-of-court settlement.
The actor accepted a settlement of £100 000 from the newspaper.
shady adjective DISHONEST
2. informal dishonest or illegal
They know some very shady characters.
He was involved in shady deals in the past.
sharia noun [ U ] ( also shariah )
smuggler noun [ C ]
someone who smuggles
snaffle verb [ I or T ] UK informal
to take something quickly for yourself, in a way that prevents someone else from having or using it
Who's snaffled my pen?
Martha snaffled (= ate) all the peanuts before the party had even begun!
The company grew by snaffling up several smaller businesses.
snarf verb [ T ] informal
1. to take something without permission
I snarfed the book off the table when he wasn't looking.
snatcher noun [ C ]
someone who takes something or someone by force
You have to watch out for bag/purse snatchers (= people who steal bags/ purses ) .
snitch verb STEAL
2. [ T ] informal to steal something
"Where did you get that money?" "I snitched it from my dad when he wasn't looking."
solicitor noun [ C ]
a type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to prepare cases and give advice on legal subjects and can represent people in lower courts
a firm of solicitors
spank verb [ T ]
1. to hit a child with the hand, usually several times on the bottom as a punishment
spanking noun [ C or U ] ( also spank )
the act of hitting someone with the hand, usually several times on the bottom as a punishment or for sexual pleasure
He needs a good spanking.
spare verb SAVE
1. [ T ] to not hurt or destroy something or someone
They asked him to spare the women and children.
speeding noun [ U ]
driving faster than is allowed in a particular area
suspect noun [ C ]
a person believed to have committed a crime or done something wrong, or something believed to have caused something bad
Police have issued a photograph of the suspect.
The prime suspect in the case committed suicide.
No one knows what caused the outbreak of food poisoning, but shellfish is the main suspect (= is thought to have caused it) .
swag noun [ U ] STOLEN
1. old-fashioned slang stolen goods
The cartoon showed a picture of a robber carrying a bag with 'swag' written on it.
swindle verb [ T ]
to get money dishonestly from someone by deceiving or cheating them
They swindled local businesses out of thousands of pounds.
swindle noun [ C ]
Fraud-squad officers are investigating a £5.6 million swindle.
swindler noun [ C ]
swipe verb STEAL
2. [ T ] informal to steal
Okay, who's swiped my keys?
terrorism noun [ U ]
(threats of) violent action for political purposes
Governments must cooperate if they are to fight/combat international terrorism.
The bomb explosion was one of the worst acts of terrorism that Italy has experienced in recent years.
terrorist noun [ C ]
someone who uses violent action, or threats of violent action, for political purposes
Several terrorists have been killed by their own bombs.
There has been an increase in terrorist attacks .
The government has said that it will not be intimidated by terrorist threats.
testate adjective formal
(of a person) having left a will (= document saying who should get their possessions)
testify verb [ I or T ]
to speak seriously about something, especially in a court of law; to give or provide proof
trial noun LEGAL PROCESS
1. [ C or U ] the hearing of statements and showing of objects, etc. in a court of law to judge whether a person is guilty of a crime or to decide a case or a legal matter
trial proceedings
Trial by jury is a fundamental right.
It was a very complicated trial that went on for months.
She's going on/standing trial for fraud.
tribunal noun [ C ]
a special court or group of people who are officially chosen, especially by the government, to examine (legal) problems of a particular type
a war-crimes tribunal
She took her case to an immigration appeals tribunal.
trooper noun [ C ] POLICE OFFICER
2. US a police officer in one of the forces of the 50 political areas of the United States
state troopers
Troopers are called out in emergencies or dangerous situations.
truncheon noun [ C ] UK ( US nightstick )
a thick heavy stick used as a weapon by police officers
try verb LAW
4. [ T ] to examine a person accused of committing a crime in a court of law by asking them questions and considering known facts, and then decide if they are guilty
Because of security implications the officers were tried in secret.
They are being tried for murder.
unconstitutional adjective
not allowed by the constitution (= set of rules for government) of a country or organization
Such a change in the law would be unconstitutional.
unconstitutionally adverb
undercover adjective [ before noun ]
working secretly using a false appearance in order to get information for the police or government
an undercover police operation
void adjective NOT ACCEPTABLE
1. having no legal authority and therefore unacceptable
The lawyers declared the contract (null and) void.
void verb [ T ]
to remove the legal force from something such as a legal agreement
waiver noun [ C ]
an agreement that you do not have to pay or obey something
We had to sign a waiver, giving up any rights to the land in the future.
walloping noun [ S ] informal
1. when someone is severely punished by being hit
I got such a walloping from my father when he came home.
wanted adjective
2. being searched for by the police because of a crime
He's a wanted man.
ward noun [ C ] HOSPITAL/PRISON
2. US one of the parts into which a prison is divided
warden noun [ C ] MANAGER
3. US the person in charge of a prison
a prison warden
warder noun [ C ] ( female old-fashioned also wardress ) UK
a person who is in charge of people in prison
warrant noun DOCUMENT
1. [ C ] an official document, signed by a judge or other person in authority, which gives the police permission to search someone's home, arrest a person or take some other action
a search warrant
Judge La Riva had issued an arrest warrant/a warrant for his arrest.
waste verb [ T ] KILL
2. US slang to kill someone
ˈ blue ˌ law noun [ C ] US old-fashioned informal
a law that limits activities which are considered not to be moral for religious reasons, such as shopping or working on Sundays
ˈ body ˌ snatcher noun [ C ]
a person who, especially in the past, stole the bodies of dead people and sold them to scientists who wanted to perform experiments on them
ˈ boot ˌ camp noun [ C ]
2. a place for young criminals, which is used instead of prison, and is similar to a place where soldiers are trained
ˈ booze ˌ bus noun [ C ] Australian
a police vehicle from which police officers test drivers' breath to see how much alcohol they have drunk
break-in noun [ C ]
an occasion when a building is entered illegally by a criminal or criminals, usually by damaging a window or door, especially in order to steal something
ˈ breath ˌ test noun [ C ]
a test in which the police ask a driver to blow into a breathalyser (= a device shaped like a bag) to show whether they have drunk too much alcohol to be allowed to drive
ˈ bully ˌ boy noun [ C ] informal
a rough and threatening man, especially one paid by someone to hurt or frighten other people
bully-boy tactics
carrying-on noun [ C or U ] plural carryings-on
activity that is not honest or moral
The company seems to have been involved in some rather dishonest carrying-on.
The newspapers were full of the Minister's carryings-on.
ˈ case ˌ law noun [ U ] legal
law based on decisions that have been made by judges in the past
ˈ cat ˌ burglar noun [ C ]
a thief who enters and leaves a building by climbing up walls to an upper window, door, etc.
ˈ charge ˌ sheet noun [ C ] UK
an official document on which a police officer records the details of a crime of which a person is accused
ˌ chief ˈ constable noun [ C usually singular ]
ˌ criminal ˈ record noun [ C ]
an official record of the crimes that a person has committed
They fired him when they found out he had a criminal record.
ˌ crown ˈ court noun [ C ] UK legal
a law court in England or Wales where criminal cases are judged by a judge and jury
ˌ crown ˈ prosecutor noun [ C ] UK legal
an official who is responsible for trying to prove in a law court that people accused of crimes are guilty
ˈ date ˌ rape noun [ C or U ]
(a case of) rape which happens during a date or social event in which the attacker is already known to the person who is attacked
ˌ dead ˈ letter noun LAW/AGREEMENT
2. [ C usually singular ] a law or agreement which is no longer effective
The ceasefire treaty was a dead letter as soon as it was signed, as neither side ever had any intention of keeping to it.
the ˈ death ˌ penalty noun [ S ]
the legal punishment of death for a crime
She would like to see the return of the death penalty in Britain.
ˈ death ˌ sentence noun [ C usually singular ]
a legal punishment of a crime by death
In some countries, drug-smuggling still carries the death sentence.
ˈ death ˌ squad noun [ C + sing/pl verb ]
an unofficial armed group who look for and illegally kill particular people, especially the enemies of a political party
ˈ death ˌ warrant noun [ C ]
an official document which says that someone must be killed as a punishment
de jure adjective [ before noun ] , adverb formal
having a right or existence as stated by law
The country has de facto independence now, and it will soon be recognized de jure by the world's governments.
The President aims to create a de jure one-party state.
depor ˈ tation ˌ order noun [ C ]
2. [ C ] when someone steals from someone e
the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally through bank
ˈ pyramid ˌ
ˈ stool ˌ pigeon noun [ C ] slang disapproving
The hijack ended with the release
2. in Britain, a police officer whose rank is above constable and below inspector , or in the US a po
a description of the likely character, behaviour and interests of a violent criminal
The police officer was gunned down as he took his children to school.
He was set upon by a vicious dog.
beyond reasonable doubt UK and Australian English ( US beyond a reasonable doubt )
to be punished or punish someone less severely
Under the terms of their contract, employees must give 3 months' notice if they leave.
the long arm of the law literary
The police are tightening the net around the smuggler
The police are tightening the net around the smugglers.
gun-runner noun [ C ]
a person who illegally brings guns into a country
gun-running noun [ U ]
the activity of bringing guns and other weapons into a country illegally, especially for use against the government
habeas corpus noun [ U ] legal
a legal order which states that a person in prison must appear before and be judged by a court of law before he or she can be forced by law to stay in prison
ˌ halfway ˈ house noun
2. [ C ] a place where prisoners or people with mental health problems stay after they leave prison or hospital and before they start to live on their own
ˈ happy ˌ slapping noun [ U ] informal
the activity of attacking someone and taking photographs of the attack with a mobile phone
ˌ heir ap ˈ parent noun [ C usually singular ]
1. the person with the automatic right to legally receive all or most of the money, property, titles, etc. from another person when they die
The Prince of Wales is the heir apparent to the throne.
ˌ High ˈ Court noun [ C usually singular ]
1. UK a law court in England and Wales for trials of civil rather than criminal cases and where decisions made in regional courts can be considered again
High Court of Australia noun [ S ]
the law court in Australia where decisions that are made in the Supreme Court of each state can be considered again
ˌ high ˈ treason noun [ U ]
the committing of a crime which seriously threatens the safety of your country
the ˌ Highway ˈ Code noun [ S ] UK
the set of official rules, published in a small book, which have to be obeyed by drivers in the UK
ˈ hit ˌ man noun [ C usually singular ]
a man who is paid to murder someone
hold-up noun STEAL
ˌ living ˈ will noun [ C usually singular ]
a written document in which a person says what type of medical treatment they would like if they become so ill that they are certain to die and are unable to communicate their wishes about their treatment
ˈ low ˌ life noun [ U ]
people who exist by criminal activities or have a way of life most people disapprove of
He started mixing with drug-dealers, pimps and other low life.
ˈ lynch ˌ law noun [ U ]
the punishment of someone who is thought to be guilty of a crime, without a legal trial, by killing them
ˈ lynch ˌ mob noun [ C ]
a group of people who want to attack someone who they think has committed a serious crime
ˈ maintenance ˌ order noun [ C ] UK
an order made by a court of law that a person must pay maintenance
ˌ man of ˈ straw noun [ C ] IMAGINARY
2. a straw man
ˌ mass ˈ murder noun [ C or U ]
the act of killing a lot of people
The regime tried to silence dissent with a programme of mass murder.
match-fixing noun [ U ]
dishonest activity to make sure that one team wins a particular sports match
the Met noun [ S + sing/pl verb ]
abbreviation for the Metropolitan Police
the Metro ˌ politan Po ˈ lice plural noun ( informal the Met ) UK
the police responsible for London
mis ˌ carriage of ˈ justice noun [ C ]
a situation in which someone is punished by the law courts for a crime that they have not committed
Many people oppose the death penalty because of the possibility of miscarriages of justice.
ˈ money ˌ laundering noun [ U ]
po ˈ lice ˌ state noun [ C usually singular ] disapproving
a country in which the government uses the police to severely limit people's freedom
po ˈ lice ˌ station noun [ C ]
the local office of the police in a town or part of a city
He was taken to the police station for questioning.
po ˌ litical ˈ prisoner noun [ C ]
someone who is put in prison for expressing disapproval of their own government, or for belonging to an organization, race or social group not approved of by that government
ˌ power of ˈ attorney noun [ C or U ] legal
the legal right to act for someone else in their financial or business matters, or the document which gives someone this right
ˈ prison ˌ camp noun [ C ]
a place where people, usually prisoners of war or political prisoners, are forced to stay
He was captured by enemy forces and sent to a prison camp for the rest of the war.
ˌ prisoner of ˈ conscience noun [ C ]
someone kept in prison because their political or religious beliefs are different from those of the government
ˌ private de ˈ tective/in ˈ vestigator noun [ C ] ( informal private eye )
a person whose job is discovering information about people. A private detective is not a government employee or a police officer
She hired a private detective to find out if her husband was having an affair.
pro ˈ bation ˌ officer noun [ C ]
a person whose job is to regularly see people who have committed crimes and who are on probation , and to help them live honestly
pro ˌ tective ˈ custody noun [ U ]
a safe place, sometimes prison, where someone is kept by the police for their own safety
psycho ˌ logical ˈ profile noun [ C ] ( specialized offender profile )
a description of the likely character, behaviour and interests of a violent criminal which is based on evidence collected from the place where a crime was committed
ˌ public ˈ prosecutor noun [ C ] legal
a lawyer who acts for the government against a criminal in court
smash-and-grab raid noun [ C ] UK
a crime in which thieves break the window of a shop and steal things before quickly escaping
ˈ sniffer ˌ dog noun [ C ] mainly UK informal
a dog that is trained and used by the police or army to find hidden drugs or bombs by smelling them
ˌ solitary con ˈ finement noun [ U ]
when someone is kept in a room alone, usually in a prison
ˈ Special ˌ Branch noun [ S or U ]
the department of the British police which deals with crimes such as terrorism that threaten the government of the UK
ˈ speed ˌ camera noun [ C ]
a camera at the side of the road which takes pictures of cars that are going faster than is legally allowed
ˈ speed ˌ trap noun [ C ]
a place on a road where the police use special hidden equipment to see whether drivers are going faster than is allowed in a particular area
ˈ spot ˌ fine noun [ C ]
a fine (= money you have to pay as a punishment) that is given to you at the time of breaking the law
ˈ squad ˌ car noun [ C ] ( also patrol car ) UK old-fashioned or US
a car used by police officers
squeaky-clean adjective informal
2. Someone who is squeaky-clean is completely good and honest and never does anything bad
Journalists have been trying to discover if the senator really is as squeaky-clean as he claims to be.
ˈ station ˌ house noun [ C ]
US informal for police station or fire station
stick-up noun [ C ] old-fashioned informal
the act of threatening someone with a gun in order to steal from them
Two men ran into the bank, shouting "This is a stick-up!"
cop noun OFFICER
1. [ C ] ( UK old-fashioned copper ) informal a police officer
Quick, run - there's a cop coming!
ˌ district at ˈ torney noun [ C ] ( abbreviation DA )
a lawyer whose job is to represent the government in a particular area of the US
extortioner noun [ C ] ( also extortionist )
a person who obtains something by force or threat
ˌ free ˈ pardon noun [ C usually singular ] ( US pardon ) legal
official forgiveness for a crime
The new government is to grant a free pardon to all political prisoners.
garrotte , garotte , US also garrote verb [ T ]
to kill someone by putting a metal wire or collar around their neck to break their neck or stop them breathing
garrotte , garotte , US also garrote verb [ T ]
to kill someone by putting a metal wire or collar around their neck to break their neck or stop them breathing
garrotte , garotte , US also garrote noun [ C ]
a metal wire or collar used to kill someone
garrotte , garotte , US also garrote noun [ C ]
a metal wire or collar used to kill someone
ˌ grievous bodily ˈ harm noun [ U ] ( abbreviation GBH ) UK legal
a crime in which one person does serious physical injury to another
handcuff verb [ T often passive ] ( informal cuff )
to put handcuffs on someone
He arrived in court handcuffed to two police officers.
handcuffs plural noun ( informal cuffs )
two metal rings joined by a short chain which lock around a prisoner's wrists
a pair of handcuffs
She was taken to the police station in handcuffs.
hijack noun [ C or U ] ( also hijacking )
when someone uses force to take control of an aircraft or other vehicle
plagiarize , UK usually plagiarise verb [ I or T ]
to use another person's idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own
The book contains numerous plagiarized passages.
If you compare the two books side by side, it is clear that the author of the second has plagiarized ( from the first).
po ˌ lice ˈ constable noun [ C ] ( abbreviation PC )
in the UK, a police officer of the lowest rank
POW , UK also PoW noun [ C ]
abbreviation for prisoner of war
He was a POW during the Vietnam war.
a POW camp
ˌ prisoner of ˈ war noun [ C ] ( abbreviation POW )
a member of the armed forces who has been caught by enemy forces during a war
a prisoner of war camp
random ˈ breath ˌ test noun [ C ] ( abbreviation RBT ) Australian
a test given by the police to drivers chosen by chance, to measure the amount of alcohol the drivers have in their blood
safebreaker noun [ C ] UK ( US safecracker )
someone who opens safes using force and steals the valuable things from inside
sergeant noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation Sgt , informal sarge ) SOLDIER
1. a soldier of middle rank
Sergeant Lewis
[ as form of address ] Dismiss the men, Sergeant.
sergeant noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation Sgt , informal sarge ) SOLDIER
1. a soldier of middle rank
Sergeant Lewis
[ as form of address ] Dismiss the men, Sergeant.
sergeant noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation Sgt , informal sarge ) POLICE OFFICER
2. in Britain, a police officer whose rank is above constable and below inspector , or in the US a police officer whose rank is below a captain
sergeant noun [ C ] ( written abbreviation Sgt , informal sarge ) POLICE OFFICER
hacker noun [ C ] ( also computer hacker )
someone who hacks into other people's computer systems
ˌ hard ˈ labour UK , US hard labor noun [ U ]
a punishment for criminals, especially used in the past, which involves a lot of tiring , physical work
ˈ jury ˌ service noun [ U ] UK ( US jury duty )
a period of time when a person is a member of a jury
I'm on/doing jury service next week.
ˈ labour ˌ camp UK , US labor camp noun [ C ]
a place in which people are kept as prisoners and forced to do hard physical work in bad conditions
loitering noun [ U ] ( US loitering with intent ) legal
the offence of waiting in a place, looking as if you are going to do something illegal
the Metro ˌ politan Po ˈ lice plural noun ( informal the Met ) UK
the police responsible for London
ˌ neighbourhood ˈ watch UK , US neighborhood watch noun [ C or U ]
a way of reducing crime by organizing the people who live in an area to watch each other's property and tell the police about possible criminals
ˌ open ˈ prison noun [ C ] UK ( US minimum-security prison )
a prison where prisoners are not kept inside because they are trusted not to escape
pa ˈ trol ˌ wagon noun [ C ] ( also paddy wagon ) US
a closed police vehicle used for transporting prisoners
ˈ penal ˌ colony noun [ C ] ( also penal settlement )
a type of prison, which is often in a place far away from other people
ˌ private de ˈ tective/in ˈ vestigator noun [ C ] ( informal private eye )
a person whose job is discovering information about people. A private detective is not a government employee or a police officer
She hired a private detective to find out if her husband was having an affair.
psycho ˌ logical ˈ profile noun [ C ] ( specialized offender profile )
fly at sb/sth phrasal verb
to attack another person or animal suddenly
He flew at his brother like a mad thing.
front for sth phrasal verb
If a person fronts for an illegal organization, they help that organization by using their good reputation to hide its secret activities
The police suspect him of fronting for a crime syndicate.
get at sb phrasal verb informal INFLUENCE
2. to influence a person illegally, usually by offering them money or threatening them
The accused claimed that the witness had been got at.
get away with sth phrasal verb AVOID PUNISHMENT
1. to succeed in avoiding punishment for something
If I thought I could get away with it, I wouldn't pay any tax at all.
get (sb) off (sth) phrasal verb
1. to avoid punishment, or to help another person to avoid punishment for something
She was charged with fraud, but her lawyer managed to get her off.
"Was he found guilty?" "No, he got off."
She got off with (= her only punishment was) a small fine.
go at sb phrasal verb
to attack someone
Suddenly, he went at me with a knife.
go down phrasal verb PRISON
6. UK slang to be put in prison
She went down for three years for her part in the robbery.
go for sb phrasal verb
to attack someone
Their dog had to be put to sleep after it went for the postwoman.
go off with sth phrasal verb
to take something without getting permission from the owner first
I do wish you'd stop going off with my car without asking me beforehand.
gun sb down phrasal verb [ M ]
to shoot someone and kill or seriously injure them, often when they cannot defend themselves
run sb in phrasal verb [ M ] old-fashioned
If the police run someone in, they find them and take them to a police station.
run off with sth phrasal verb informal
to leave a place or person suddenly after having stolen something from them
He ran off with $10 000 of the company's money.
send sb down phrasal verb [ M usually passive ] PRISON
1. UK ( US send sb up ) to send someone to prison
He was sent down for armed robbery.
She was sent down for three years.
send sb down phrasal verb [ M usually passive ] PRISON
1. UK ( US send sb up ) to send someone to prison
He was sent down for armed robbery.
She was sent down for three years.
send sb down phrasal verb [ M usually passive ] COLLEGE
2. UK old-fashioned to ask someone to leave a college or university without finishing their course because they have done something wrong
She was sent down from Oxford for taking drugs.
send sb off phrasal verb [ M ] UK ( US eject )
to order a sports player to leave the playing area during a game because they have done something wrong
He was sent off for swearing at the referee.
set about sb phrasal verb literary
to attack someone
Her attacker set about her with a knife.
set sth aside phrasal verb [ M ] LEGAL DECISION
2. If a judge or court sets aside a previous decision or judgment, they state that it does not now have any legal effect, usually because they consider it to have been wrong
The Court of Appeal set aside his conviction.
set sb/sth on sb phrasal verb
to make an animal or person attack someone
The security guards set their dogs on the intruders.
If you do that again, I'll set my big brother on you!
set on/upon sb phrasal verb
1. [ often passive ] to attack someone
be doing/in articles UK
to be working in a law office while training to be a lawyer
assault and battery legal
[ U ] a threat to attack someone followed by a violent physical act
assist the police with/in their inquiries UK
If someone is assisting the police with their inquiries, it usually means they have been taken to the police station to be asked questions about a crime.
an attempt on sb's life
an act of trying to kill someone
This is the third attempt on the President's life this year.
be called to the Bar UK
to qualify as a lawyer who can argue a case in a higher court
be admitted to the Bar US
to qualify as a lawyer
be on/walking the beat
A police officer who is on/walking the beat is on duty, walking around rather than driving in a police car.
the bench
b. the judge or magistrate , or the place where they sit, in a court of law
Kindly address your remarks to the bench, Mr Smith.
serve/sit/be on the bench
to work as a judge or magistrate
take the bench US
a. to become a judge or magistrate
take the bench US
b. If a judge takes the bench, they begin a formal meeting of a law court.
beyond reasonable doubt UK and Australian English ( US beyond a reasonable doubt )
If a legal case or a person's guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt, there is enough proof for the person accused of a crime to be judged guilty
Her guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt.
the guilty party
the person who has done something wrong or who has committed a crime
hired gun mainly US informal
a person who is paid to shoot and kill someone
high court
US the Supreme Court
Your Honour formal
the way to address a judge
under house arrest
legally forced to stay in your house as if it were a prison
The opposition leader has just been put/placed under house arrest.
jump bail
to fail to appear for a court trial after being released until the trial in exchange for payment
I'd never have thought Hugh would jump bail.
the law
a. [ S ] the system of rules of a particular country
What does the law say about having alcohol in the blood while driving?
Of course robbery is against the law!
The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law.
You can't take that course of action and remain within the law.
the law
b. [ S ] informal the police
The law was/were out in force at the demonstration.
go to law
When someone goes to law about something, they ask a court to decide if it was done legally.
legalities
the things which are demanded by law
I'm not sure about the legalities, but I suggest we go ahead with the plan and see what happens.
the letter of the law formal
the exact words of the law and not its more important general meaning
get off lightly; let sb off lightly
thou shalt
used humorously in modern English when talking about people who follow rules exactly when the rules are not very important
You know what he's like about food - thou shalt not serve red wine with fish.
a slap on the wrist
informal a gentle warning or punishment
The judge gave Minna a slap on the wrist for not wearing her seat belt.
be speeding
to be driving faster than you are legally allowed to do
He was caught speeding.
the stake
in the past, a wooden post to which people were tied before being burned to death as a punishment
In medieval Europe, many women were accused of being witches and were burnt at the stake.
stand trial
to be put on trial in a court of law
Two other men are to stand trial next month for their part in the bombing.
statute book UK
When a law is on or reaches the statute book, it has been formally approved and written down and can be used in a law court.
stay of execution, deportation, etc. legal
an order by a judge which stops a judgment being performed until new information can be considered
the stocks
(in Europe in the Middle Ages) a wooden frame which was fixed around someone's feet, hands and sometimes head, so that they were forced to sit or stand for a long time in public as a punishment
stone sb to death
to kill someone as a punishment by throwing stones at them
the system disapproving
unfair laws and rules that prevent people from being able to improve their situation
He has his own ways of beating the system, making sure that he has good relationships with influential people.
terms
[ plural ] the conditions which control an agreement, arrangement or activity
terms of employment
get away with murder informal
to be allowed to do things that other people would be punished or criticised for
He's so charming that he really does get away with murder.
have sb's guts for garters UK informal
If you say you will have someone's guts for garters, you mean that you will punish them severely
If that boy has taken my bike again, I'll have his guts for garters!
hung, drawn and quartered
In the past, if someone was hung, drawn and quartered, they were hanged by the neck and their body was cut into pieces.
You might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb. UK saying
said to mean that because the punishment for a bad action and an even worse one will be the same, you have no reason not to do the worse one
Heads will roll!
something that is said to mean that people will be punished for something bad that has happened
off the hook
2. If you are off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult situation
John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook.
kick (some) ass mainly US offensive
to punish someone or to defeat someone with a lot of force
We're gonna go in there and kick ass.
the knock at/on the door
when the police or soldiers come to take you away from your house
During the dictatorship people had come to fear the knock at the door in the middle of the night.
take the law into your own hands
to do something illegal and often violent in order to punish someone because you know the law will not punish that person
One day, after years of violent abuse from her husband, she took the law into her own hands.
make legal history
If you make legal history, the case you win in court or take to court is the first of its type and changes the way future cases will be dealt with.
take sb's life formal
to kill someone
under lock and key
2. If a person, especially a criminal, is under lock and key, they are being kept in a place from which they cannot escape, usually a prison.
skin sb alive informal humorous
to punish or tell someone off severely
My mother will skin me alive for being so late home.
come up/out smelling of roses ( US come up/out smelling like roses ) uk
to have people believe that you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest
When the results of the fraud investigation were announced last week, the staff came up smelling of roses.
come up/out smelling of roses ( US come up/out smelling like roses ) uk
to have people believe that you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest
When the results of the fraud investigation were announced last week, the staff came up smelling of roses.
Spare the rod and spoil the child. old-fashioned saying
said to mean that if you do not punish a child when it does something wrong, it will not learn what is right
spill blood literary
to kill or hurt people
stand bail
to pay money temporarily to a court so that someone can be released from prison until the date of their trial
She can't be released from police custody until someone stands bail for her.
have sticky fingers informal
to be likely to steal
The last person we hired in the shop turned out to have sticky fingers.
swing for it UK informal
to be punished severely for something that has happened
If there's an error in the calculations, you know who'll swing for it!
put sb to the sword literary
to kill someone
Thousands of innocents were put to the sword.
tar and feather sb
to cover someone in tar and feathers as a punishment
throw the book at sb
to severely punish someone
After the accident, the safety inspector threw the book at the company directors.
tighten the net
(especially of the police) to become closer to catching someone, especially a criminal
come up/out smelling of roses ( US come up/out smelling like roses ) uk
to have people believe that you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest
When the results of the fraud investigation were announced last week, the staff came up smelling of roses.
come up/out smelling of roses ( US come up/out smelling like roses ) uk
to have people believe that you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest
When the results of the fraud investigation were announced last week, the staff came up smelling of roses.
Spare the rod and spoil the child. old-fashioned saying
said to mean that if you do not punish a child when it does something wrong, it will not learn what is right
spill blood literary
to kill or hurt people
stand bail
to pay money temporarily to a court so that someone can be released from prison until the date of their trial
She can't be released from police custody until someone stands bail for her.
have sticky fingers informal
to be likely to steal
The last person we hired in the shop turned out to have sticky fingers.
swing for it UK informal
to be punished severely for something that has happened
If there's an error in the calculations, you know who'll swing for it!
put sb to the sword literary
to kill someone
Thousands of innocents were put to the sword.
tar and feather sb
to cover someone in tar and feathers as a punishment
throw the book at sb
to severely punish someone
After the accident, the safety inspector threw the book at the company directors.
tighten the net
(especially of the police) to become closer to catching someone, especially a criminal
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