ðə lɒŋ ɑːrm əv ðə lɔː
General
neutral
advanced
- Literally:
- The law having an extremely long arm to reach people
What does "the long arm of the law" mean?
The extensive power and reach of law enforcement
Examples
- The fugitive fled to three countries but couldn't escape the long arm of the law.
- White-collar criminals often think they're above it, but the long arm of the law catches up.
- Thanks to international cooperation, the long arm of the law now extends across borders.
Origin
Charles Dickens used 'the arm of the law' in The Pickwick Papers (1837).
How to use it
Used in journalism, crime fiction, and legal contexts.
Similar expressions
justice prevails
nowhere to hide
Opposites
above the law
beyond reach
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "the long arm of the law" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.