take the law into one's own hands
- take the law into one's own hands
take the law into one's own hands
Fig. to attempt to administer the law;
to pass judgment on someone who has done something wrong. •
Citizens don't have the right to take the law into their own hands.
•
The shopkeeper took the law into his own hands when he tried to arrest the thief.
* * *
{v. phr.} To protect one's supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. - An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged him to a tree./ * /His farm was going to be sold for taxes, but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with a shotgun./ Compare: LAW UNTO ONESELF, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
take the law into one's own hands — {v. phr.} To protect one s supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged… … Dictionary of American idioms
into one's own hands — See: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE S OWN HANDS … Dictionary of American idioms
into one's own hands — See: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE S OWN HANDS … Dictionary of American idioms
take the bit in one's mouth — also[take the bit in one s teeth] {adv. phr.} To have your own way; take charge of things; take control of something. * /When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her./ Compare:… … Dictionary of American idioms
take the bit in one's mouth — also[take the bit in one s teeth] {adv. phr.} To have your own way; take charge of things; take control of something. * /When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her./ Compare:… … Dictionary of American idioms
take the bull by the horns — {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE S… … Dictionary of American idioms
take the bull by the horns — {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE S… … Dictionary of American idioms
law — law1 lawlike, adj. /law/, n. 1. the principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people, whether in the form of legislation or of custom and policies recognized and enforced by judicial decision. 2 … Universalium
own — See: COME INTO ONE S OWN, DOSE OF ONE S OWN MEDICINE, HOLD ONE S OWN, IN A WORLD OF ONE S OWN, KEEP ONE S OWN COUNSEL, OF ONE S OWN ACCORD or OF ONE S OWN FREE WILL, ON ONE S OWN ACCOUNT or ON ONE S OWN HOOK, ON ONE S OWN TIME, SIGN ONE S OWN… … Dictionary of American idioms
own — See: COME INTO ONE S OWN, DOSE OF ONE S OWN MEDICINE, HOLD ONE S OWN, IN A WORLD OF ONE S OWN, KEEP ONE S OWN COUNSEL, OF ONE S OWN ACCORD or OF ONE S OWN FREE WILL, ON ONE S OWN ACCOUNT or ON ONE S OWN HOOK, ON ONE S OWN TIME, SIGN ONE S OWN… … Dictionary of American idioms
