Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

take-the-law-into-your-own-hands

idiom

/teɪk ðə lɔː ˈɪntuː jɔːr oʊn hændz/

Definition

To seek revenge or remedy a situation through personal actions, rather than through legal or official channels.

Examples

After the police failed to act, he decided to take the law into his own hands and confront the criminal himself.
Many residents felt they had no choice but to take the law into their own hands when their community was threatened.

Meaning

This phrase refers to the act of individuals enforcing their own perception of justice, often in response to perceived wrongs or injustices, bypassing established legal procedures.