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| Above board | If a situation or business is described as above board,
it is open, honest and legal. "There are no secret negotiations. Our dealings have always been above board." |
| Ambulance chaser | This terms refers to a lawyer who finds work by persuading people injured in accidents to claim money from the person who caused the accident. "Peterson & Scott are well-known ambulance chasers - that's how they make money!" |
| Beyond any reasonable doubt | This is a legal expression which means that something is certain. "The court established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the man was innocent." |
| In black and white | To say that something is
in black and white means that there is written proof of it. "It's an obligation. It's written in black and white in your contract." |
| Burden of proof | The
burden of proof is the necessity imposed by law to prove that what one says is true. "The burden of proof lies with the claimant." |
| Catch somebody red-handed | If a person is
caught red-handed, they are caught
while they are doing something wrong or illegal. "The police arrived as the burglar was leaving the house. He was caught red-handed." |
| Crack down on something | If
the authorities decide to crack down on something, they enforce the law by taking severe measures to restrict undesirable or criminal actions. "Following the increase in road accidents, it was decided to crack down on speeding." |
| Daylight robbery | The term 'daylight robbery' is used when the price of something
is thought to be much too high. "$10 for an orange juice? That's daylight robbery!" |
| False pretences | If you obtain something under false pretences, you deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, financial or social position, in order to obtain what you want. "She obtained the interview under false pretences." |
| In trouble with the law | If someone is in trouble with the law, they are being questioned by the police in connection with something illegal or criminal. "The suspect has often been in trouble with the law." |
| Lay down the law | Someone who lays down the law tells people very forcefully and
firmly what to do. "The volunteers helped in a disorganized way. They needed someone to lay down the law." |
| Not have a leg to stand on | To say that someone doesn't have a leg to stand on
means that they can't prove what they say. "Three people testified against him. He didn't have a leg to stand on." |
| Null and void | Something which is null and void has no legal force or is invalid. "The contract was declared null and void." |
| Pervert the course of justice | If a person perverts the course of justice, they tell a lie
or prevent the police from finding out the truth about something. "The suspect was accused of trying to pervert the course of justice" |
| Signed, sealed and delivered | When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed
and delivered, all the legal documents have been signed. "It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and delivered before the end of the week." |
| Toe the line | If a person toes the line, they obey the rules and accept
the principles of a person, group or organization. "If you want to stay in this school, you'll have to learn to toe the line." |
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