the law

IPA/ðə lˈɔː/
IPA/ðə lˈɔː/

the law — 慣用語

1. the police, courts, and similar authorities thought of as the force that hunts d

1.慣用語B2
釋義

司法當局

負責逮捕並懲罰犯法者的人和機關

the police, courts, and similar authorities thought of as the force that hunts down, arrests, and punishes criminals

例句

After three months in hiding, the law finally caught up with the gang leader.

躲了三個月後，司法當局終於追上那名幫派首腦。

the law caught up with [criminal]

The smugglers fled across the border, but the law reached them first.

那群走私犯逃過邊境，但司法當局還是先一步找到他們。

the law as pursuing force in a crime story

同義詞
  • the police

    narrower; usually means officers rather than courts or prosecutors

  • the authorities

    broader; can include officials beyond criminal investigation and punishment

  • the justice system

    more institutional and formal; less natural in chase or arrest scenes

文法句型

the law caught up with [someone]

the law is after [someone]

the law treated [someone] like [role]

用法筆記

Often appears in crime stories when speakers mean the police, courts, or prosecutors acting together as one force. Common with verbs such as catch, evade, face, or be in trouble with.

常見錯誤

❌Law was waiting outside the club.
✅The law was waiting outside the club.
💡this fixed phrase normally needs the article 'the'.
❌The laws caught the thief at dawn.
✅The law caught the thief at dawn.
💡when it means the authorities, the phrase is usually singular.