- [countable]
a rule that deals with a particular crime, agreement, etc. （针对某项罪行、协议等的一条）法律，法规 to pass a law (= officially make it part of the system of laws) 通过一项法律 - law against (doing) something
Police don't have the resources to enforce the law against dumping waste. 警方没有资源来执行禁止倾倒废物的法律。 - (informal)
There ought to be a law against it! 应该立法加以禁止！ - law on something
The company's actions violated the law on equal employment. 该公司的行为违反了平等就业法。 The suspects were in clear violation of immigration laws. 嫌疑犯明显违反了移民法。
Extra ExamplesTopics Permission and obligationa2, Law and justicea2, Politicsa2The government has introduced some tough new laws on food hygiene. 政府对食品卫生出台了一些强硬的新法规。 The country has very strict gun laws. 那个国家对枪支管理有非常严格的法律规定。 He was charged under the 1996 law against hiring illegal immigrants. 根据1996年的法律，他被指控雇佣非法移民。 the passage of a restrictive immigration law in 1924 1924 年一项限制性移民法的通过 the legislators who drafted the law 起草该法的立法人员 the laws regulating firearms 枪械管理的相关法律 the laws regarding child actors 儿童演员的相关法律 the law concerning industrial action ballots 关于劳工行动投票的法律 a local law against keeping horses 禁止养马的地方法 a law recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples 承认同性伴侣民事结合的法律 a law limiting the hours of work to ten hours per day 禁止日工作时间超过 10 小时的法律 Laws criminalizing same-sex relationships were ruled unconstitutional. 规定同性恋关系为犯罪的法律被判违宪。 Judges interpret this law in different ways. 法官对这条法律的解释各有不同。 Congress amended the law in 1998. 国会于 1998 年对该法进行了修正。 Environmental laws are strict about polluting precious water. 环境法对珍贵水源的污染有严格的规定。 The law applies equally to businesses large and small. 该法律同样适用于所有公司，无论大小。 The law forbids gambling of any kind. 法律禁止任何形式的赌博。 We believe this law is unconstitutional. 我们认为该法违宪。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- case
- civil
- …
- become
- apply
- enforce
- …
- allow something
- authorize something
- permit something
- …
- court
- case
- suit
- …
- above the law
- against the law
- beyond the law
- …
- as the law stands
- law and order
- the law of the land
- …
- (also the law)[uncountable]
the whole system of rules that everyone in a country or society must obey 法律（体系） If they entered the building they would be breaking the law. 如果进入那栋大楼，他们就会触犯法律。 The reforms have recently become law. 这些改革措施最近已成为法律。 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the land on July 2, 1964. 1964 年的《民权法案》于 1964 年 7 月 2 日成为了国家法律。 state/federal law 州/联邦法律 State law prohibits gambling in public places. 州法律禁止在公共场所赌博。 - against the law
In Sweden it is against the law to hit a child. 在瑞典打小孩是违法的。 - within the law
Defence attorneys can use any means within the law to get their client off. 辩护律师可在法律许可的范围内利用任何手段为当事人脱罪。 - outside the law
to operate outside the law 违法经营 - by law
British schools are required by law to publish their exam results. 法律要求英国学校公布考试结果。 - under the (…) law | under… law
Under existing law, journalists cannot refuse to provide information to a jury. 根据现行法律，记者不能拒绝向陪审团提供信息。 - above the law
Do not think you are above the law (= that you cannot be punished by the law). 别以为你能凌驾于法律之上。 They acted in accordance with the law of the country. 他们按照该国的法律行事。 The constitution guarantees equality before the law for all. 宪法保证法律面前人人平等。 law enforcement agencies/officials 执法机构/官员 - (humorous)
Kate's word was law in the Brown household. 凯特的话在布朗家就是金科玉律。
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justice 刑事审判 Breaking the law 犯法 - break/violate/obey/uphold the law
违反／违背／遵守／维护法律 - be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
因犯罪／抢劫／诈骗而被调查／逮捕／审判 - be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
因被控犯强奸罪／诈骗罪／重型罪遭逮捕／起诉／定罪 - be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
因涉嫌纵火／抢劫／在商店行窃而被逮捕 - be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
被指控犯有谋杀罪／杀人罪／四项诈骗罪 - face two charges of indecent assault
面临两项猥亵罪的指控 - admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
承认（对某事的）罪责／责任 - deny the allegations/claims/charges
否认指控 - confess to a crime
坦白罪行 - grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
准许／不准保释；交保释金获释；弃保潜逃
The legal process 法律程序 - stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
受审；候审；把某人送交法院审判；开庭审理；受到审判 - take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
把某人告上法庭；被法庭受理；庭外和解某事 - face/avoid/escape prosecution
面临／免于／逃脱起诉 - seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
寻求／聘请／有权聘用／无权聘用律师 - hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
开庭；出庭；休庭 - sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
担任／影响／说服陪审团 - sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
坐在／站在／出现在／被送上／将某人送上被告席 - plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
认罪；不认罪 - be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
被召唤进入／进入证人席 - take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
出庭作证；让某人出庭作证 - call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
传唤／以传票传唤／讯问／盘问证人 - give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
提供／听取对某人不利／有利的证据 - raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
提出／撤销／否决异议 - reach a unanimous/majority verdict
作出一致的／多数人赞同的裁决 - return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
作出／宣布无罪／非法杀人／意外死亡的裁决 - convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
宣判被告有罪／无罪 - secure a conviction/your acquittal
获得有罪／无罪判决 - lodge/file an appeal
提出上诉 - appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
对判决／裁决提出上诉／质疑；维持／撤销判决／裁决
Sentencing and punishment 判刑与惩罚 - pass sentence on somebody
宣布对某人的判决 - carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
会被判处／面临／服七年徒刑／无期徒刑 - receive/be given the death penalty
被判死刑 - be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
被判十年（监禁） - carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
会被判处／处以／缴纳（3 000 美元的）罚金／（14 年的）监禁 - be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
因持有毒品罪／诈骗罪／谋杀罪被监禁 - do/serve time/ten years
服刑；服十年徒刑 - be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
被送进监狱；把某人送进监狱；被释放出狱 - be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
在／把某人关在死囚牢房；在死囚牢房度过…年 - be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
获准假释；假释遭拒；违反假释规定
Culture the legal systemthe legal systemFor historical reasons, the system of law used in Scotland is different from that in England and Wales, with the law in Northern Ireland similar to that in England. When making decisions Scottish courts look for an appropriate general principle and apply it to a particular situation. English law relies on case law, a collection of previous decisions, called precedents. English courts look at precedents for the case being tried and make a similar judgement. A basic principle of law in Britain is that anyone accused is innocent until proven guilty, so it is the job of the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant (= the person accused) has broken the law as stated in the charge. If this cannot be proved the person must be acquitted (= allowed to go free, with no blame attached).British law is divided into civil law which concerns arguments between individuals about matters such as business contracts, and criminal law which deals with offences that involve harm to a person resulting from somebody breaking the law. In civil cases, the plaintiff (= the person who claims to have been wronged) brings an action against the defendant in the hope of winning damages (= a financial payment) or an injunction (= a court order preventing the defendant from doing something). Criminal cases are brought against criminals by the state, in England and Wales by the Director of Public Prosecutions and in Scotland through procurators fiscal.In England and Wales most towns have a Magistrates' Court, where minor cases are judged and more serious cases are passed to higher courts by three magistrates called Justices of the Peace, trained members of the public. The more serious cases are heard in a Crown Court by a judge and a jury. Minor civil cases, such as divorce and bankruptcy, are heard in the county courts and more serious ones in the High Court. Appeals against decisions from the Crown Court or the High Court go to the Court of Appeal and a few cases, where a question of law is in doubt, are passed to the Supreme Court, which has replaced the House of Lords as the highest court in the country.In Scotland, criminal cases are heard in District Courts by members of the public called lay justices. More serious cases go to regional sheriff courts and are heard by the sheriff and a jury. Appeals go to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. Civil cases begin in the sheriff court and may go on appeal to the Court of Session.In the US, the judicial system is one of the three branches of the federal government, but the legal system operates at many levels with state, county and city courts as well as federal courts. The right to trial by jury is provided by the Constitution. Each type of court has its own jurisdiction, that is, it deals with certain kinds of cases. Both civil and criminal cases are first heard in trial courts and there is a right to appeal against the court's decision in a court of appeals. Many states have family courts where people get divorced and small claims courts which deal with small amounts of money. States also have trial courts, which hear a wider range of cases, and courts of appeal called superior courts or district courts. Most states have a Supreme Court where the most serious appeals are held. States have their own criminal code, but some crimes are federal offences (= against federal law), and crimes may fall under federal jurisdiction if more than one state is involved.Most courts have only one judge, but some higher courts have several. In the US Supreme Court, the nine judges are called justices. The people on either side of a case are represented by lawyers, also called attorneys. In a criminal trial the defendant is represented by a defense attorney, or if he or she is unable to pay a lawyer, the court will appoint a public defender. The prosecution is led by an assistant district attorney or, in federal cases, by a federal attorney.Extra ExamplesTopics Permission and obligationa2, Law and justicea2, Politicsa2A presidential veto prevented the bill from becoming law. 总统的否决使该议案没能成为法律。 As the law stands, you can get married at sixteen. 根据法律规定，16 岁就可以结婚。 By law, you are obliged to install smoke alarms in the factory. 依据法律，你有义务在工厂安装烟雾报警器。 It's the job of the police to enforce the law. 警察的工作就是执法。 No one is above the law. 任何人都不能凌驾于法律之上。 Parliament voted for the bill to become law. 议会投票通过，使议案成为法律。 The building was raided by law enforcement agents. 该大楼受到了执法人员的突击搜查。 The company is operating entirely within the law. 这家公司的运作完全是合法的。 The law is clear: bribery is wrong. 法律规定很清楚：贿赂是违法的。 The wearing of a crash helmet is required by law. 法律要求必须佩戴安全帽。 What you did was clearly against the law. 你这样做明显违法。 individuals who are acting beyond the law 超越法律行事的个人 rebels who live outside the law 非法的叛乱分子 the law governing school attendance 规定就学的法律 the law relating to the sale of goods 商品销售的相关法律
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- case
- civil
- …
- become
- apply
- enforce
- …
- allow something
- authorize something
- permit something
- …
- court
- case
- suit
- …
- above the law
- against the law
- beyond the law
- …
- as the law stands
- law and order
- the law of the land
- …
- [uncountable]
a particular branch of the law 法规 He specializes in international law. 他专攻国际法。 tax/employment law 税收/就业法 - according to… law
According to copyright law, the author is the owner of the material. 根据版权法，作者是材料的所有者。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- case
- civil
- …
- become
- apply
- enforce
- …
- allow something
- authorize something
- permit something
- …
- court
- case
- suit
- …
- above the law
- against the law
- beyond the law
- …
- as the law stands
- law and order
- the law of the land
- …
- [uncountable]
the study of the law as a subject at university, etc.; the profession of being a lawyer 法学；法律学；律师业 a law student/professor 法律系学生/教授 Jane is studying law. 简正在学习法律。 - (North American English)
He's in law school. 他在读法学院。 - (British English)
He's at law school. 他在读法学院。 What made you go into law? 是什么促使你从事法律行业的呢？ a law firm 律师事务所
Extra ExamplesTopics Educationb1, Law and justiceb1a room filled with law books 满是法律书籍的房间 She lost her job at a Boston law office. 她丢掉了在波士顿一家律师事务所的工作。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + law- practise/practice
- firm
- school
- the law[singular]
used to refer to the police and the legal system 警方；法律机构 - [countable]
the fact that something always happens in the same way in an activity or in nature 规律；法则；原理 The usual laws of supply and demand do not seem to apply in this case. 一般的供求规律似乎不适用于这种情况。 the laws of nature/physics 自然规律／物理定律
- [countable]
a scientific rule that somebody has stated to explain a natural process 定律 the first law of thermodynamics 热力学第一定律 Do you remember anything about Ohm's Law? 你还记得欧姆定律吗？
- [countable]
one of the rules that controls an organization or activity 规则；规章；条例 the laws of the Church 教会的戒律 The first law of kung fu is to defend yourself. 功夫的首要原则是自卫。 the laws of cricket 板球规则
- [countable]
a rule for good behaviour or how you should behave in a particular place or situation 良好行为的准则；（某地或某场合下的）行为规范 He frequently behaved as though moral laws did not exist. 他的所作所为常常无视道德准则的存在。 Their world is shaped by their parents' attitudes and the unspoken laws of the street. 他们的世界是由父母的态度和街头潜规则塑造的。
one rule一条法规
system of rules规则体系
subject/profession学科；职业
police警察
in business/nature/science商业；自然；科学
of organization/activity机构；活动
of good behaviour良好的品行
Word OriginOld English lagu, from Old Norse lag ‘something laid down or fixed’, of Germanic origin and related to lay (verb).
Idioms
be a law unto yourself
to behave in an independent way and ignore rules or what other people want you to do 自行其是；我行我素 Boys of that age are a law unto themselves. 那个年龄的男孩是他们自己的法律。
go to law
- (British English)
to ask a court to settle a problem or disagreement 诉诸法律；提起诉讼；打官司 They went to law to get back their property. 他们诉诸法律要回他们的财产。
law and order
a situation in which people obey the law and behave in a peaceful way 法治；治安；遵纪守法 The government struggled to maintain law and order. 政府努力维持治安。 After the riots, the military was brought in to restore law and order. 暴乱以后，军队出动来恢复治安。 They claim to be the party of law and order. 他们声称自己是重视治安问题的政党。 Martial law was imposed to prevent the breakdown of law and order. 为了防止治安陷入瘫痪，实施了戒严。
the law of averages
the law of the jungle
a situation in which people are prepared to harm other people in order to succeed 丛林法则；弱肉强食 These criminal gangs only recognize the law of the jungle. 这些犯罪团伙只承认弱肉强食。
lay down the law
to tell somebody with force what they should or should not do 发号施令；严格规定 My dad started laying down the law about what time I should come home. 我爸爸开始规定我必须什么时候回家。
the letter of the law
- (often disapproving)
the exact words of a law or rule rather than its general meaning 法律（或法规）的准确字面意义 They insist on sticking to the letter of the law. 他们坚持严守法律的字面意义。 We might be guilty of slightly bending the letter of the law. 我们可能犯了轻微歪曲法律条文的罪。 In spite of the difficulties it would cause her family, the judge stuck to the letter of the law and jailed her. 尽管会给她的家庭带来困难，法官还是严格依据法律条文判她入狱。
on the wrong side of the law
in trouble with the police 违法
possession is nine tenths of the law
- (saying)
if you already have or control something, it is difficult for somebody else to take it away from you, even if they have the legal right to it 现实占有，败一胜九；占有者在诉讼中总占上风
the rule of law
the condition in which all members of society, including its political leaders, accept the authority of the law 法治 Democracy and the rule of law are yet to be firmly established in the country. 民主和法治尚未在该国牢固确立。
take the law into your own hands
to do something illegal in order to punish somebody for doing something wrong, instead of letting the police deal with them 不通过法律擅自处理 After a series of burglaries in the area, the police are worried that residents might take the law into their own hands. 该地区发生了一系列入室盗窃案后，警方担心居民可能会自行执法。 When police failed to arrest the suspect, local people took the law into their own hands and beat him up. 警察没有逮捕嫌疑犯，当地人便擅自执法，把他痛打一顿。
there’s no law against something