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Glite Dictionary
to drop the writ

to drop the writ

9.6
To stop a court case by canceling the official paper that starts it
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : retirar el auto
  • After new evidence emerged, the prosecution agreed to drop the writ and let the case go.

Examples

  • The lawyer advised her client to drop the writ to avoid further legal costs.

  • If the company chooses to drop the writ, the lawsuit will come to an immediate end.

  • Don't drop the writ!

  • The lawyer decided to drop the writ.

  • After new evidence emerged, the prosecution agreed to drop the writ and let the case go.

  • If the company chooses to drop the writ, the lawsuit will come to an immediate end.

  • The lawyer advised her client to drop the writ to avoid further legal costs.

Synonyms

to drop
vsto drop the writ
∞ 3.1

To leave out a sound or part of a word

is the formal legal action to end a filed paper rather than simple omission
to cancel
vsto drop the writ
224 1.0

To make a ticket, order, or rule no longer valid

is narrower, used to remove a single legal paper rather than anything
to dismiss
vsto drop the writ
  • Formal
192 4.1

To end a legal case so the court does not consider it

means stopping consideration of a filed paper rather than annulling its validity
to throw out
vsto drop the writ
163 4.2

To stop considering a case, request, or proposal in court

focuses on stopping proceedings rather than formally annulling a legal paper
to withdraw
vsto drop the writ
159 3.5

To take money or things out of a place where they are kept

in law, refers to ending a specific legal paper rather than broad removal
to revoke
vsto drop the writ
  • Formal
96 6.2

Officially stop something from being valid, for example a license

is used for ending one issued legal paper rather than rights or privileges
to rescind
vsto drop the writ
  • Formal
44 7.9

Officially cancel a law, order, or agreement

is applied to ending a particular filed legal paper rather than general rules
to vacate
vsto drop the writ
  • Formal
15 6.6

Cancel an official decision so it is no longer in effect

is used for removing a specific legal paper rather than general orders
to disannul
vsto drop the writ
  • Formal
9.3

To cancel an earlier decision that said something was not valid so it becomes valid again

is used to cancel one filed legal paper rather than broader acts

Antonyms

to initiate
426 4.5

To start something such as a project or discussion

Surface Forms

drop the writ infinitive

Morphology

drop + the + writ

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'drop' (to dismiss or stop pursuing) applied to 'writ' (a legal document) yields 'withdraw or cancel the writ.' This follows common English patterns (e.g. 'drop the charges', 'drop the case') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Drop the writ may come from the simple image of letting a written court order fall away. A writ is a legal paper, and to drop it is to stop using it, so the phrase now means 'to cancel or withdraw' that legal document.