C1idiompoliticsIELTS-friendly
take the law into your own hands
USUK
to punish someone yourself instead of letting the police or courts deal with it
Almost always used to criticise or warn. 'Your' changes: their own hands, his own hands.
In context
Even if a thief steals your bike, you shouldn't take the law into your own hands.
Police warned residents not to take the law into their own hands after the robberies.
More idioms about politics
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a U-turna complete change of plan or policy, especially by a government
- against the lawnot allowed by the law; illegal
- behind barsin prison
- pay lip service to somethingto say you support something without doing anything to help it