Legal idioms

Here is a list of idiomatic expressions related to courts and judges.

Abide by a decision

To abide by a decision is to follow the orders issued by a court.

As sober as a judge

When you are as sober as a judge, you are alert and sober. You are not drunk or intoxicated.

• He was as sober as a judge when he returned home after attending a cocktail party.

Beat the rap

To beat the rap is to escape punishment after committing a crime.

• If you are rich and have a good lawyer on your side, you will be able to beat the rap easily.

Cast doubt on (someone or something)

To cast doubt on somebody is to cause them to be doubted.

• The evidence presented in the court cast doubt on the testimony of the witness.

Clear somebody’s name

To clear someone’s name is to prove that they are not guilty of a crime.

• The sons hired the best lawyer in the country to clear their father’s name of the false charges levelled against him.

Come down hard on somebody

To come down hard on somebody is to scold them severely.

• The judge came down hard on the police inspector who had been accused of taking bribes.

Cop a plea

To cop a plea is to plead guilty to a crime. In this case, the person charged with a crime will decide not to fight against the charge in order to try and receive a light punishment.Here is a list of idiomatic expressions related to courts and judges.