- 1the law [uncountable] the whole system of rules that everyone in a country or society must obey If they entered the building they would be breaking the law. In this city, it is against the law to sleep in an abandoned building. Defense attorneys can use any means within the law to get their client off. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle is required by law to have a driver's license. The reforms recently became law. Do not think you are above the law (= think that you cannot be punished by the law). the need for better law enforcement (humorous) Kate's word was law in the Brown household. Topic CollocationsCriminal Justicebreaking the law
- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/indicted/convicted on felony charges/on charges of rape/fraud
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of assault and battery
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- be granted/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince/advise a jury
- stand/appear/be brought before a judge
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/take/put somebody on the stand/the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of guilty/not guilty
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- sentence somebody to 5 years in prison/2 years' probation
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3,000)/a penalty (of 14 years' imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend 13 years on death row
- be granted/be denied/violate (your) parole
- ⇨ more collocations at crime
- 2[uncountable] a particular branch of the law corporate/international/tax, etc. law see canon law, case law, civil law, common law, criminal law, statute law
- 3[countable] a rule that deals with a particular crime, agreement, etc. law (against something) a law against the hiring of illegal immigrants law (on something) The government has introduced some tough new laws on food hygiene. strict gun laws a federal/state law to pass a law (= officially make it part of the system of laws) (informal) There ought to be a law against it! see bylaw, lemon law subject/profession
- 4[uncountable] the study of the law as a subject at a university, etc.; the profession of being a lawyer Jane is studying law. He's in law school. What made you go into law? a law firm police
- 5the law [singular] used to refer to the police and the legal system Jim is always getting into trouble with the law. She was well known for her brushes with the law. of organization/activity
- 6[countable] one of the rules that control an organization or activity the laws of the Roman Catholic Church The first law of kung fu is to defend yourself. the laws of tennis the laws of war of good behavior
- 7[countable] a rule for good behavior or how you should behave in a particular place or situation moral laws the unspoken law of the street
- 8[countable] the fact that something always happens in the same way in an activity or in nature synonym principle the law of supply and demand the law of gravity
- 9[countable] a scientific rule that someone has stated to explain a natural process the first law of thermodynamics see legal, legalize, legislate, Murphy's Law, Parkinson's law Idioms
system of rules
to behave in an independent way and ignore rules or what other people want you to do Boys of that age are a law unto themselves.
a situation in which people obey the law and behave in a peaceful way The government struggled to maintain law and order. After the riots, the military was brought in to restore law and order. They claim to be the party of law and order.
the principle that one thing will happen as often as another if you try enough times Keep looking, and by the law of averages you'll find a job sooner or later.
a situation in which people are prepared to harm other people in order to succeed These criminal gangs only recognize the law of the jungle.
to tell someone with force what they should or should not do My dad started laying down the law about what time I should come home.
the exact words of a law or rule rather than its general meaning They insist on sticking to the letter of the law. We might be guilty of slightly bending the letter of the law.
in trouble with the police
if you already have or control something, it is difficult for someone else to take it away from you, even if they have the legal right to it
the condition in which all members of society, including its rulers, accept the authority of the law Democracy and the rule of law are yet to be firmly established in the country.
to do something illegal in order to punish someone for doing something wrong, instead of letting the police deal with them After a series of burglaries in the area, the police are worried that residents might take the law into their own hands.
used to tell someone who is criticizing you that you are not doing anything wrong I'll sing if I want to—there's no law against it.
Check pronunciation: law