Society, Law & Politics - According to Rules

Discover how English idioms like "by the book" and "in the clear" relate to being in accordance with the rules in English.

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in the clear [phrase]

used to say that one is free from suspicion or danger of wrongdoing

Ex: I am in the clear with my work assignments , having completed them on time .

on the case [phrase]

used to refer to a situation in which one is taking legal action to solve a problem or crime

Ex: Officers on the case are unable to find a motive .

the (long|) arm of the law [phrase]

used to refer to the ability of the legal system and police to enforce justice and punish criminals

Ex: Law enforcement , represented by the arm of the law , diligently upholds justice in society .

the third degree [phrase]

a tough and forceful way of questioning someone in order to make them reveal information or admit to something, often using harsh methods

Ex: The suspect will face the third degree when they are brought in for questioning .

behind bars [adverb]

used to refer to someone who is imprisoned or serving time in prison

Ex: If convicted , the defendant will likely find himself behind bars for a substantial period of time .

to [be] in for [phrase]

to be in risk of receiving punishment or getting into trouble

Ex: My brother is in for stealing a car .

by the book [phrase]

strictly adhering to established rules, procedures, or standardized practices

Ex:

dos and don'ts [phrase]

rules that determine what one should or should not do in a particular situation

Ex: Remember to review the dos and don'ts of online etiquette before engaging in social media interactions .

green light [noun]

approval to begin a project

Ex: They received the green light to start filming the movie last week .

rule of thumb [phrase]

a method or principle solely based on experience, which may not be completely accurate

Ex: He used the rule of thumb to estimate the project 's timeline .

in {one's} crosshairs [phrase]

used to describe people who are easily targeted for criticism or are attracting significant negative attention

Ex:

guilty as charged [phrase]

used to admit that the accusations or charges against one are true

Ex:

clean bill of health [phrase]

a statement indicating that something is safe and free of any defects or problems

Ex: The mechanic gave the car a clean bill of health , saying it was in excellent condition .