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sidebar

sidebar

9 8.6
A private talk between the judge and lawyers away from the jury
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪdˌbɑr/
  • Jargon
translation icon : conferencia al margen
  • May I have a sidebar, Your Honor?
  • sidebar conference
  • sidebar, Judge
  • sidebar, Your Honor

Examples

  • Fowkkes was up with an objection, and this time asked for a sidebar conference.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • We can discuss all of this brotherly business later during a sidebar.

    Smurfs (2025)

  • These lady lawyers need a quick sidebar.

    Dark Waters (2019)

  • Walking up to the sidebar for conferences.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • They're having a sidebar here.

    Destination Wedding (2018)

  • Judge Belvin Perry called a sidebar during the arguments to deal with the outburst.

    Blog text (17)

  • Miss Devereux, if you have any further evidence you'd like to introduce... I'll see you and Mr. Campioni at sidebar.

    Shadow of Doubt (1998)

  • May I have a sidebar, Your Honor?

  • Miss Devereux, if you have any further evidence you'd like to introduce... I'll see you and Mr. Campioni at sidebar.

  • Seconds later, the lawyers were huddled at the sidebar, with the judge declaring there was, 'a huge problem.'

Surface Forms

sidebar singular
sidebars plural

Morphology

sidebar = side + bar (semi-transparent) = side + bar

The compound literally refers to something at the side of the courtroom barrier, but the specialized legal meaning 'private conference' is conventional and requires legal-register knowledge.

Etymology

Sidebar comes from side and bar, with bar meaning the judge's area or the line that separates people in a courtroom; a sidebar is therefore a private, quiet talk at the side of the bench, out of the jury's hearing.