Collocations for law - noun
1. official rule/rules
→ See also martial law
ADJECTIVE
administrative,
case,
civil,
common,
constitutional,
criminal,
statute,
etc.
abortion, bankruptcy, business, contract, divorce, employment, family, immigration, labour/labor, libel, tax, etc.
federal, international, state
clear
The law is clear: bribery is wrong.
abortion, bankruptcy, business, contract, divorce, employment, family, immigration, labour/labor, libel, tax, etc.
federal, international, state
clear
The law is clear: bribery is wrong.
unclear,
vague
harsh, strict, stringent, tough
Environmental laws are strict about polluting precious water.
harsh, strict, stringent, tough
Environmental laws are strict about polluting precious water.
discriminatory,
unconstitutional,
unjust
We believe this law is unconstitutional.
We believe this law is unconstitutional.
liberal
restrictive
the passage of a restrictive immigration law in 1924
restrictive
the passage of a restrictive immigration law in 1924
Jewish,
Talmudic
Islamic, sharia
Islamic, sharia
VERB + law
become
A presidential veto prevented the bill from becoming law.
Parliament voted for the bill to become law.
A presidential veto prevented the bill from becoming law.
Parliament voted for the bill to become law.
apply,
enforce,
implement,
uphold
It's the job of the police to enforce the law.
It's the job of the police to enforce the law.
follow,
obey,
observe,
respect
break, flout, violate
adopt, create, enact, introduce, pass
overturn, repeal
amend, change, reform, revise
Congress amended the law in 1998.
break, flout, violate
adopt, create, enact, introduce, pass
overturn, repeal
amend, change, reform, revise
Congress amended the law in 1998.
draft,
write
the legislators who drafted the law
the legislators who drafted the law
interpret
Judges interpret this law in different ways.
Judges interpret this law in different ways.
law + VERB
allow sth,
authorize sth,
permit sth
recognize sth
a law recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples
recognize sth
a law recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples
ban sth,
forbid sth,
prohibit sth
The law forbids gambling of any kind.
The law forbids gambling of any kind.
limit sth,
restrict sth
a law limiting the hours of work to ten hours per day
a law limiting the hours of work to ten hours per day
criminalize sth
Laws criminalizing same-sex relationships were ruled unconstitutional.
Laws criminalizing same-sex relationships were ruled unconstitutional.
mandate sth (esp. AmE),
require sth
The wearing of a crash helmet is required by law.
The wearing of a crash helmet is required by law.
govern sth,
regulate sth
the law governing school attendance
the laws regulating firearms
the law governing school attendance
the laws regulating firearms
apply to sb/sth,
cover sb/sth
The law applies equally to businesses large and small.
The law applies equally to businesses large and small.
law + NOUN
court
(BrE) (also court of law (BrE, AmE)
case, suit (usually lawsuit)
lawsuits filed by women against employers
case, suit (usually lawsuit)
lawsuits filed by women against employers
enforcement
The building was raided by law enforcement agents.
The building was raided by law enforcement agents.
violation
(AmE)
reform
the broader implications of copyright law reform
reform
the broader implications of copyright law reform
clerk,
partner
(both AmE)
office, practice (both AmE)
She lost her job at a Boston law office.
office, practice (both AmE)
She lost her job at a Boston law office.
license
(AmE)
book, journal, review
a room filled with law books
book, journal, review
a room filled with law books
library
PREPOSITION
above the law
No one is above the law.
No one is above the law.
against the law
What you did was clearly against the law.
What you did was clearly against the law.
beyond the law
individuals who are acting beyond the law
individuals who are acting beyond the law
by law
By law, you are obliged to install smoke alarms in the factory.
By law, you are obliged to install smoke alarms in the factory.
outside the law
rebels who live outside the law
rebels who live outside the law
within the law
The company is operating entirely within the law.
The company is operating entirely within the law.
law against
a local law against keeping horses
a local law against keeping horses
law concerning,
law on,
law regarding,
law relating to
the law concerning industrial action ballots
A law on hunting will cause a lot of disagreements.
the laws regarding child actors
the law relating to the sale of goods
the law concerning industrial action ballots
A law on hunting will cause a lot of disagreements.
the laws regarding child actors
the law relating to the sale of goods
PHRASES
as the law stands
(BrE)
As the law stands, you can get married at sixteen.
As the law stands, you can get married at sixteen.
law and order
Martial law was imposed to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Martial law was imposed to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
the law of the land
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the land on July 2, 1964.
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the land on July 2, 1964.
the letter of the law
In spite of the difficulties it would cause her family, the judge stuck to the letter of the law and jailed her.
In spite of the difficulties it would cause her family, the judge stuck to the letter of the law and jailed her.
take the law into your own hands
When police failed to arrest the suspect, local people took the law into their own hands.
When police failed to arrest the suspect, local people took the law into their own hands.