the crown

the crown — idiom

1. in a monarchy, the legal and political body that manages state affairs, owns pub

1.慣用語B2
釋義

in a monarchy, the legal and political body that manages state affairs, owns public land, and brings criminal cases — acting as the government in the name of the sovereign rather than the sovereign personally.

例句

The Crown filed a lawsuit against the mining company for environmental damage.

idiom: 'the Crown' meaning the state as a legal entity

In Canada, the Crown is represented in each province by a lieutenant-governor.

同義詞
  • the state

    broader term used in both monarchies and republics; 'the Crown' is specific to monarchies

  • the government

    more general; 'the Crown' carries historical and legal weight specific to Commonwealth systems

  • the monarchy

    refers more to the institution of kingship than to the administrative government

反義詞
  • the people

    in legal contexts, the Crown acts on behalf of the people but is distinct from them

  • the subject

    historical antonym in Crown–subject legal relationship

文法句型

the Crown + verb

用法筆記

Frequently capitalised as 'the Crown' in legal and political writing. This sense refers to the state or government as an institution, not to the individual monarch. Common in Commonwealth legal systems where criminal cases are brought 'in the name of the Crown.'

常見錯誤

❌The crown decided to raise taxes to pay for the war' (referring to the king personally).
✅The Crown decided to raise taxes to pay for the war
💡capitalise 'Crown' when the meaning is the government institution, not the physical object or the individual monarch.
❌She served the crown for forty years as a loyal subject' (creating ambiguity).
✅She served the Crown for forty years as a loyal subject
💡capitalisation and context remove ambiguity between the state and the person.

2. the position of being king or queen, including the authority, status, and respon

2.慣用語B2
釋義

the position of being king or queen, including the authority, status, and responsibilities that go with ruling a country as a monarch.

例句

The crown passed peacefully from Queen Amara to her eldest grandson.

pattern: the crown passes to [person]

After sixty years on the throne, King Felipe passed the crown to his daughter.

collocation: pass the crown to [person]

同義詞
  • the throne

    very close synonym; 'the throne' focuses more on the seat of power while 'the crown' emphasises authority and legitimacy

  • the monarchy

    broader — refers to the system of royal rule, not just the position of a specific monarch

  • sovereignty

    more abstract; refers to supreme authority, not tied exclusively to monarchy

反義詞
  • abdication

    the act of giving up the crown; both terms are often used in succession narratives

文法句型

the crown + verb of succession

inherit the crown

pass the crown

用法筆記

Often used with verbs of transfer or succession: 'pass the crown,' 'inherit the crown,' 'succeed to the crown.' Unlike sense 1, this sense is not usually capitalised and focuses on the role and authority of the monarch rather than the government as a whole. Distinguish from the concrete noun meaning a physical headpiece.

常見錯誤

❌He wore the crown for sixty years' (confusing the physical object with the position).
✅He held the crown for sixty years
💡use 'held,' 'inherited,' or 'passed' to refer to the position of power rather than the ceremonial headpiece.
❌The crown of England passed to Queen Victoria in 1837' (ambiguous).
✅The crown passed to Queen Victoria in 1837
💡adding 'of England' can make it sound like the physical object; context alone should carry the meaning.