9. Legal English Idioms
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Questions and Answers

What does the idiom 'above board' imply about a situation or business?

  • It is secretive and unclear.
  • It is open, honest, and legal. (correct)
  • It is organized and efficient.
  • It is chaotic and disorganized.

What would best describe someone who believes they are 'above the law'?

  • They do not feel the need to follow regulations. (correct)
  • They are overly cautious.
  • They seek legal advice frequently.
  • They strictly follow the law.

If someone acts 'against their better judgement', what are they doing?

  • Following sensible advice.
  • Making decisions based on intuition.
  • Relying on the opinions of others.
  • Choosing a course of action that they believe is unwise. (correct)

What does it mean to be 'behind bars'?

<p>To be in prison. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is something established 'beyond reasonable doubt'?

<p>When it is certain. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to do something 'by the book'?

<p>To strictly follow the rules. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'breaking and entering' typically associated with?

<p>Entering a property illegally. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a 'brush with the law' imply?

<p>A brief encounter with legal issues. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if someone doesn't have a leg to stand on?

<p>They cannot prove their claims. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'null and void' refer to?

<p>Something that is not valid or has no legal force. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is a case described as an open-and-shut case?

<p>When the facts are clear and easily resolved. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by leaving a paper trail?

<p>Leaving written evidence of actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to pervert the course of justice?

<p>To confuse law enforcement with false information. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is poetic justice?

<p>Justice that includes an ironic twist of fate. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to bend the rules?

<p>To alter rules slightly or make exceptions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a smoking gun in a legal context?

<p>Clear evidence of someone's guilt. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'Caught Red-Handed' mean?

<p>To be caught in the act of doing something wrong, with no possibility of denial (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'Take the Law into One’s Own Hands'?

<p>To act independently without legal authority (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom means 'not subject to the laws of society'?

<p>Above The Law (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Get Off on a Technicality' imply?

<p>To avoid punishment due to a minor legal detail (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Throw the Book at Someone' mean?

<p>To punish someone as severely as possible (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Hang by a Thread' typically refers to which situation?

<p>Being in a very precarious or dangerous situation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'Legal Loophole' mean?

<p>A small detail that avoids legal consequences (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase means to refuse to answer a question in a legal setting?

<p>Take the Fifth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'crack down on' an undesirable action?

<p>To enforce the law by taking severe measures (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'cut some slack'?

<p>To treat someone more leniently (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does obtaining something under 'false pretences' signify?

<p>Deceiving others about one's identity or qualifications (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'get off the hook'?

<p>To escape punishment or blame (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a situation has 'got out of hand'?

<p>It has become uncontrollable (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What describes a 'hit and run' accident?

<p>A driver who leaves the scene without providing information (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'hush money' used for?

<p>To keep information secret or avoid scandal (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be 'a law unto themselves'?

<p>Doing things independently and ignoring accepted norms (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Crack down on

To enforce the law strictly and take severe measures to stop undesirable or criminal actions.

Cut some slack

To relax a rule, treat someone less severely, or allow them to do something that is usually not allowed.

False pretences

To deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, or financial or social position to get what you want.

Get off the hook

To avoid punishment or blame for something wrong.

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Get out of hand

To become uncontrollable or unmanageable.

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Hit and run (accident)

An accident where the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle without stopping to provide help, identification, or insurance, and doesn't report the accident to the police.

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Hush money

Money paid to keep information secret or avoid a scandal.

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Law unto themselves

Someone who ignores rules and does things their own way, regardless of what is considered acceptable.

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Above Board

A situation or business is honest, open, and legal. It is free from any hidden agendas or illegal activities.

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Above the Law

Someone who believes they are exempt from rules and laws. They act as if they are superior to legal processes.

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Against One's Better Judgement

To do something even though you know it is unwise or not the best choice. It involves going against your judgment.

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Behind Bars

To be in prison. It refers to a person's state of confinement.

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Beyond Reasonable Doubt

A legal standard requiring proof that is convincing and leaves no reasonable doubt about the truth of a claim.

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Do Something by the Book

Doing something strictly by the rules and regulations. It implies adherence to a set of guidelines.

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Breaking and Entering

The crime of illegally entering a building by breaking a door, window, etc.

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Brush with the Law

A brief encounter or experience with something, especially the legal system.

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Take the law into one's own hands

To act as if one has legal authority over a situation without the consent of the legal system.

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Throw the book at someone

To punish or reprimand someone as severely as possible.

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Legal loophole

A small or obscure detail in a law that allows one to avoid the consequences of the law.

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Caught red-handed

To be caught in the act of committing a crime or doing something wrong.

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Open-and-shut case

A legal case or problem that is easy to resolve because the evidence is clear.

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Pass the bar

To successfully complete the official examination and qualify to practice law.

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By the book

Following rules or procedures exactly.

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In legal hot water

To be in trouble with the law; facing legal problems or potential legal action.

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Not have a leg to stand on

To say that someone doesn't have a leg to stand on means that they can't prove what they say or do not have valid arguments to support their position.

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Null and Void

Something which is null and void has no legal force or is invalid.

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Paper Trail

If a person or organisation leaves a paper trail, they leave evidence in writing or in document form that will serve as proof of their actions.

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Pervert the course of justice

If a person perverts the course of justice, they tell a lie or prevent the police from finding out the truth about something.

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Poetic Justice

Poetic justice is an ideal form of justice in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in a particularly appropriate manner, by an ironic twist of fate.

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Bend the Rules

If a person bends the rules, they alter the rules slightly, make an exception or allow something that is not usually allowed.

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Signed, Sealed and Delivered

When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed and delivered, all the legal documents are in order.

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Study Notes

  • Above board: Open, honest, and legal. "The negotiations were above board."
  • Above the law: Believing they are not subject to laws that apply to others. "Some elected officials acted as if they were above the law."
  • Against one's better judgment: Doing something despite knowing it's not wise. "She went against her better judgment and drove in the heavy traffic."
  • Behind bars: In prison. "The criminal was sentenced to five years behind bars."
  • Beyond reasonable doubt: Certainty in a legal context. "The jury found the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt."
  • Do something by the book: Following rules precisely. "The officer handled the situation exactly by the book."
  • Breaking and entering: Entering a building illegally. "The burglars were arrested for breaking and entering."
  • Brush with the law: A brief encounter with the legal system. "He had a brush with the law for speeding."

  • Burden of proof: Responsibility to prove a claim. "The burden of proof rests with the plaintiff."

  • Case in point: An example illustrating a point. "The latest accident is a case in point, showing the dangers of speeding."

  • Caught red-handed: Caught doing something wrong immediately. "The police caught the thief red-handed."

  • Crack down on: Enforce the law strictly. "The authorities cracked down on speeding in the city."

  • Cut some slack: Treat less harshly; make an exception. "The teacher cut some slack for the student arriving late."

  • False pretences: Obtaining something deceptively. "He got the job under false pretences."

  • Get off the hook: Avoid punishment. "The lawyer managed to get him off the hook."

  • Get out of hand: Become uncontrolled. "The party got out of hand quickly."

  • Hit and run (accident): Leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it. "The driver was arrested for his hit and run accident."

  • Hush money: Money for keeping quiet. "The politician paid hush money to avoid scandal."

  • Law unto themselves: Ignoring laws. "The group behaved law unto themselves."

  • Lay down the law: Dictate rules firmly. "The leader laid down the law to the group."

  • Not have a leg to stand on: Having no evidence or justification. "The suspect had no leg to stand on and thus was released."

  • Null and void: Invalid. "The contract was deemed null and void."

  • Open-and-shut case: Clear-cut case. "The evidence in the case was an open and shut case."

  • Paper trail: Evidence of activity. "The police investigation uncovered a paper trail leading to the suspect."

  • Pervert the course of justice: Interfering with the correct legal process. "The politician was accused of perverting the course of justice."

  • Poetic justice: Outcome fitting the crime. "It was poetic justice that the criminal was apprehended in the same way."

  • Bend the rules: To modify rules or regulations. "The security guard bent the rules and let him inside."

  • Signed, sealed, and delivered: Legally binding agreement. "The contract was signed, sealed, and delivered."

  • Smoking gun: Unquestionable evidence. "The documents were the smoking gun needed to convict the defendant"

  • Take the law into one's own hands: Taking action without following legal procedures. "Rather than involve the system, he attempted to take the law into his own hands."

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Legal English Idioms (Handout) PDF

Description

Test your knowledge of common legal idioms in English. This quiz covers idiomatic expressions frequently used in legal contexts, such as 'above board' and 'behind bars'. Enhance your understanding of legal language and improve your communication skills in legal settings.

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