law
noun uk/lɔː/ us/lɑː/
(RULE)
B1 [ C ]法，法律;法律制度，法律体系
a rule, usually made by a government, that is used to order the way in which a society behaves
There are laws against drinking in the street. 有法律禁止在街上喝酒。
The laws governing the possession of firearms are being reviewed. 关于持有武器的法律正在审议中。
They led the fight to impose laws on smoking. 他们带头争取对吸烟行为进行法律约束。
[ + -ing verb or + to infinitive ] Many doctors backed plans for a law banning/to ban all tobacco advertising. 许多医生都希望能有法律禁止烟草广告。
See also: bylawlawsuitlawyer
B2 [ U ] (often the law)（某国的）法，法律，法律体系
the system of rules of a particular country, group, or area of activity
What does the law say about having alcohol in the blood while driving? 法律关于驾车时血液中含有酒精是如何规定的？
Of course robbery is against the law! 抢劫当然是违法的！
The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law. 法官判定董事们知法犯法。
You can't take that course of action and remain within the law. 如果那样做就会触犯法律。
They have to provide a contract by law. 他们必须依法提供合同。
It was a detailed study of international human rights law. 这是一份对国际人权法的详细研究。
B2 [ U ]法律学，法学
the area of knowledge or work that involves studying or working with the law
She's going to study law at university. 她打算上大学学法律。
a law firm in New York 纽约的一家律师事务所
[ S ] informal警方
the police
The law was/were out in force at the demonstration. 警方派出大队人马在游行现场进行戒备。
go to law UK 打官司，将…诉诸法律
When someone goes to law about something, they ask a court to make a legal judgment about it.
These people were known to be very quick to go to law.
I'm planning to stay out of the issue and let it go to law on 28 August.
The bridge still hasn't been completed so we're having to go to law about it.
When they married, Thomas went to law to give his stepson his own surname.
She thinks she has been libelled and plans to go to law.
- More examples
- Many motorcyclists flout the law by not wearing helmets.
- The law forbids the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 16.
- We're campaigning for a repeal of the abortion laws.
- The police want tougher laws for dealing with drug traffickers.
- The new law will outlaw smoking in public places.
(PRINCIPLE)
C2 [ C ]规律，定律，法则
a general rule that states what always happens when the same conditions exist
Newton's laws of motion 牛顿运动定律
the laws of nature/physics 自然规律／物理定律
humorous The first law of (= the most important principle in) politics is - if you're going to lie, don't get found out! 政界的首要原则是——如果你打算说谎，就不要让人发现！
See also: Murphy's law Parkinson's law
Idioms
be a law unto yourselfidiom disapproving 自行其是，我行我素
to behave in a way that is independent and does not follow the usual rules for a situation
Charlie, of course, never fills in the record forms but then he's a law unto himself. 查利当然从不填写登记表，他总是自行其是。
the law of averagesidiom 平均律
the idea that over a period of time a particular thing will happen because it is just as likely to happen as the other possible events
the law of the jungleidiom 丛林法则，弱肉强食
the idea that people who care only about themselves will be most likely to succeed in a society or organization
We hope for a world where the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs the conduct of nations. 我们期盼一个以法律制度而不是丛林法则来规范各国行为的世界。
take the law into your own handsidiom C2 不通过法律自行惩罚，私自治罪
to do something illegal and often violent in order to punish someone because you know the law will not punish that person
One day, after years of violent abuse from her husband, she took the law into her own hands. 在经受了多年虐待之后，她终于有一天私自报复了她的丈夫。
there's one law for the rich and another for the pooridiom saying 法律面前贫富不平等。
said when a rich person has not been punished for something that a poor person would be punished for