legal battle
27
3.5
- noun
- /ˈliːɡəl ˈbætəl/
:
pleito
- As expected, the BBC has won its legal battle against blogger Tony Newbery.
- won the legal battle
- years of legal battles
But yeah, we were in a we're in a legal battle with Ted Talks.
- But yeah, we were in a we're in a legal battle with Ted Talks.
- Anyway, in that phone call, he told Elon, Elon, I have been through a legal battle with the Security and Exchange Commission.
Examples
-
In 1857, following a protracted legal battle, Joel's estate was settled.
Academic text (2009) -
The vote on Proposition 8 is just one in a long line of legal battles that define and refine same-sex relationships.
Academic text (2011) -
The legal battle was over who would control production of the film The Cotton Club.
-
We find ourselves in a fierce legal battle over our finances at the moment.
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How are you positioned to handle a prolonged legal battle?
-
The citizens of Fulton County had won their moral and legal battle.
Academic text (2009) -
What is your view on the current legal battle going on with encryption between the FBI and Apple?
-
The Coppedges became the named plaintiffs in a legal battle against the school board.
Academic text (2004) -
The Pavias prevailed over the tenant in an extended legal battle; Couri was eventually evicted.
Blog text (4) -
The Coppedges became the named plaintiffs in a legal battle against the school board.
Synonyms
∞
3.1
A problem that a court looks at and decides
719
4.8
A person or company brings a claim to court to get a legal decision
425
5.6
A case one person brings against another in court to get a decision
119
7.7
To use the courts to settle a dispute
42
3.8
A court process to solve a dispute when someone sues another
25
4.4
A court case between parents about who will look after their children
12
4.8
A formal set of actions in court that a judge uses to decide a dispute
10
4.4
A legal process to decide who will live with and care for a child after parents separate
A case where one person takes another to court to get or protect a right
A court case between people about who owns land or property
How Contentious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'legal' (pertaining to law) modifies 'battle' (a struggle), so 'legal battle' straightforwardly means a struggle fought in the legal domain (i.e., litigation). This metaphorical but transparent use of 'battle' to mean 'contest/dispute' is common in English and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Legal battle puts legal and battle together: it pictures a court as a battle where two sides 'fight' with lawyers and papers instead of swords. That's why it means a 'long, hard court case' to win rights.