contempt of court
15
7.5
- noun
- /kənˈtɛmpt əv kɔrt/
- Formal
:
desacato al tribunal
- A defendant who fails to adhere to the jurisdiction of the court is therefore regarded as committing contempt of court.
- held in contempt of court
- contempt of court proceedings
Trump is in contempt of court right now.
- Trump is in contempt of court right now.
- And at that point then between that, between the first one, then they hit me with, we're prosecuting you for contempt of court.
- And were they in contempt of court?
- I give a nod of course, to AAIE and Avi holds you in contempt of court.
- She got fed with contempt of court and perjury and all sorts, but the courts still find in favour of the women pretty much.
Examples
-
I will hold him in contempt of court.
-
Thereafter, you will be charged with contempt of court, meaning you will be incarcerated.
-
Trump is in contempt of court right now.
-
You are now in contempt of court.
-
This is contempt of court.
-
Mr. H has another hearing and is found in contempt of court.
Fiction book (1992) -
And if you refuse to answer, I'll hold you in contempt of court.
-
Anyone who violates the order will be arrested for contempt of court and will face the possibility of six months in jail.
Academic text (1996) -
Mrs. Hinkle, I find you guilty of contempt of court and sentence you to a thousand-dollar fine and five days in jail!
Fiction book (1994) -
The judge ruled that the defendant was in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions.
Synonyms
80
6.8
Deliberate refusal to obey a court's orders that can be punished by law
3
8.8
Showing disrespect or disobeying a court and its orders can be punished as a crime
1
8.6
Failing to follow a court order that helps another person, causing fines or jail to make you obey
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'contempt' (disrespect or disobedience) plus the prepositional link 'of' targeting 'court' (the judicial forum) yields the meaning 'disrespect/disobedience directed at a court or its orders.' This structure and logic are straightforward and common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Contempt of court comes from the idea of someone openly insulting or ignoring the judge in the courtroom, where contempt means scorn or disrespect and court is the place of the judge. Because courts punish that behavior to keep order, the phrase now means 'showing disrespect or disobeying' the court.