Laws, rules & punishments
Laws, rules & punishments
Idioms
Take the law into your own hands: take actions which should be taken by the police / courts.
- 'Citizens have taken the law into their own hands and attacked the government buildings.'
Have become a law unto yourself: to be completely out of control and ignore the law.
- 'These citizens have become a law unto themselves and the police have nothing to do to stop them.'
Lay down the law: enforce the law by being very firm and clear about it.
- 'International politicians say they are ready to lay down the law and concerned about the noise that civilians are arousing.'
Bend the rules: make an exception; let someone disobey the rules/laws
- 'Only Spanish armed forces are now allowed to bend the rules in case it is necessary to reestablish calm.'
Collocations
* The law must be observed at all times
* Those who refuse to obey the law should be punished
* A new law has been introduced /passed forbidding to smoke while driving
*The government didn't act within the law when allowed building on the beach
*It's only the police's job to uphold /enforce the law
Noun & verbs collocations
- The new law forbids/prohibits the use of mobile phones
while crossing the road
- The rules pemit/allow students to do their exams with their computers
- The regulations apply to all students, not just new ones
- If we follow the rules, a new meeting should be held before Friday
- The regulations require/estipulate that all drives should have a driving license
- We have to comply with the set regulations regarding to permitted lugage
Phrasal verbs
Judge: Well, Mr Tur, I’m pleased to know that the ‘Guardia Civil’ have at last caught up with you.
Mr Tur: My Lord, I am innocent! Breaking the law is goes completely against my principles.
Judge: Some of your employees have informed on you.
Mr Tur: They must have been telling lies...
Judge: They say that you have managed to convince their families to sign over their savings to you.
Mr Tur: They made up their minds on their own! They did it of their own free will.
Judge: In this trial a substancial sentence will be imposed on you.
Mr Tur: I will abide by the law in the future, I promise!
Judge: You will certainly do, Mr Tur while you are in prison. Also, if you adhere to the rules in there,
you might be able to be let out early. The truth is that I will not let you off the punishment you deserve!
Description of rules & laws
To toughen up: 'Our Government intention is to toughen up the legislation regarding to corruption in the political sphere' (make more limiting and difficult to avoid ).
To provide for: 'We must say it is unfair providing for the imprisonment of innocents' (allowing to happen)
Throw out: 'The opposition proposal to stop the abortion law was thrown out at the Congress House' (rejected)
Vote on: 'No matter what citizens' views are. The law will be voted on in Parliament next month'
Get through: 'Unluckily, this Government will get through. Not without difficulties thanks to the opposition parties' (will be approved)
Tighten up: 'Citizens voted for different parties because it is thought that other laws should be tightened up. Corruption is one example'. (made stricter)
Roll out: 'Journalists analysis point that in next year's elections many regulations will be rolled out' (introduced)
Laws, rules & punishments
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Vol XCIII, No. 1
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Vol XCIII, No. 2
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Vol XCIII, No. 3
Power & politics
A hidden agenda: 'I'm sure there was a hidden agenda
when when the coup attempt occurred' (an attempt to hide the real intention)
Go to the polls: 'Catalonia wants to go to the polls in November' (vote in an election).
Spin doctors: 'Our government spin doctors always go out to the press assuring that the situation is improving' (public workers that meet the press and present events in a way that suits them).
Verbs that collocate with law
'Caught up with you': managed to catch
act within
introduce
pass
'Informed on you': give information to the police about someone who has done something wrong
Authority & responsibility
If you... Then you...
obey / observe
LAW
break
uphold / enforce
respect
- Carry the can
- Get / let someone off the hook
- Leave someone to their own devices
- Are at/on the receiving end
- Are at someone's beck and call
- Get your own way
- Accept being responsible for something
- Free/leave someone free from responsibility
- Allow them to decide how to decide
- Are the target of (the other person's anger, criticism, etc)
- Do everything they tell you, whenever they tell you to do it
- Persuade other people to let you do what you want