pattern

Society, Law & Politics - Punishment

Explore English idioms regarding punishment with examples like "face the music" and "have it coming".

review-disable

Review

flashcard-disable

Flashcards

quiz-disable

Quiz

Start learning
English idioms related to Society, Law & Politics
to slap somebody on the wrist

to give someone a mild warning or punish them in a way that is not harsh

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [slap] {sb} on the wrist\"
to bring somebody to book

to make someone face the consequences or legal repercussions of their actions

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [bring] {sb} to book\"
to face the music

to accept and confront the punishment or consequence of one's wrongdoings or irresponsible actions

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [face] the music\"
to have it coming

to be deserving of something that happens to one, particularly something that is unpleasant

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [have] it coming\"
to take the fall

to take the blame for another person's actions or accept full responsibility for a crime or wrongdoing that other people were also part of

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [take] the fall\"
hair shirt

something extremely hard that one goes through, often as a punishment

[noun]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"hair shirt\"
up the river

in or to prison confinement

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"up the river\"
at Her Majesty's pleasure

used for saying someone is being held, detained, or imprisoned indefinitely at the will of the ruling British monarch

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"at (Her|His) Majesty's pleasure\"
to sue the pants off (of) somebody or something

to take legal action against someone and demand so much money and damages from them that it leaves them with nothing

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [sue] the pants off (of|) {sb/sth}\"
dead man walking

a prisoner who is sentenced to death and is about to be executed

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"dead man walking\"
to put somebody to death

to officially punish someone by death

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [put] {sb} to death\"
to bring somebody to account

to formally confront someone and demand an explanation for their conduct and actions, especially those in positions of authority who are deemed responsible

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [bring|call] {sb} to account\"
one's head on a plate

used to refer to a punishment that is very harsh for a crime or wrong deed

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"{one's} head on a (plate|platter)\"
to rap somebody on the knuckles

to give someone a mild punishment for a mistake or wrongdoing

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"to [rap] {sb} (on|over|across) the knuckles\"
the devil to pay

a situation where there will be severe consequences or difficulties as a result of certain actions or events

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"the devil to pay\"
a price on one's head

a specific amount of money that is offered as a reward to anyone who captures or kills a particular person

[phrase]
daily words
wordlist
Close
Sign in
Definition & Meaning of \"a price on {one's} [head]\"
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app