Useful Legal and Law Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Useful Legal and Law Idioms with Meaning and Examples

(Caught) Bang to Rights

• Meaning: Caught in an unlawful or immoral act without any mitigating circumstances.
• Example: The criminal was caught bang to rights, but thanks to a sophisticated defense team he served only a light sentence.

Above The Law

• Meaning: Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
• Example: Members of the president’s party often act like they’re above they law. They violate regulations, but they are not punished.

Act Of Congress

• Meaning: Hard to get, said of authorization
• Example: It shouldn’t take an act of Congress to get the project approved.

All Rights Reserved

• Meaning: Said of a published work; all reproduction rights are asserted by the copyright holder
• Example: All rights reserved by the copyright holders of this website!

Bail Out

• Meaning: To rescue someone from a bad situation, to shield someone from the consequences of his or her actions
• Example: I bailed you out this time, but next time you’re going to have to take responsibility for your mistakes.