long arm of the law

long arm of the law

English

Noun

long arm of the law

1. (idiomatic, almost always preceded by the) The influence or effectiveness of law enforcement institutions; law enforcement officers collectively.
   • 1889, Wilkie Collins, The Legacy of Cain, ch. 60:

     It is my belief that I could have felt no greater dismay, if the long arm of the Law had laid its hold on me while he was speaking.

   • 1979, "Pass the Buck," Time, 3 Sept:

     The long arm of the law does not protect banks the way it used to.

   • 2008, Lisa Rein, "Jurisdictions Share Data on Ex-Offenders," Washington Post, 12 Sept. (retrieved 6 Spet. 2009):

     "Repeat violent offenders will hopscotch over state lines to avoid the long arm of the law," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Translations

influence or effectiveness of law enforcement

Chinese: Mandarin: 法網 (zh), 法网 (zh) (wǎngluó), 網羅 (zh), 网罗 (zh) (fǎwǎng) Danish: lovens lange arm Dutch: lange arm der wet Finnish: lain pitkä koura, lain koura Greek: τσιμπίδα του νόμου f (tsimpída tou nómou)

Italian: braccio della legge Norwegian: Bokmål: lovens lange arm Nynorsk: lovas lange arm, lovens lange arm Swedish: lagens långa arm