jail
A special building where the police keep people after they are arrested or for a short time as punishment.
A secure building where people are kept by the authorities, usually after arrest and before trial, or for short-term punishment.
The punishment of being kept in jail for a period of time.
The legal punishment or state of being kept in jail, especially as a result of a court decision.
To send or keep someone in jail, usually after a judge decides they are guilty.
To put someone in jail, especially as a result of a legal decision or as part of the criminal process.
A life situation that feels like you cannot move or choose freely, like being in a jail.
A situation, place, or condition that strongly limits someone's freedom or choices, compared to being locked in a jail.
- Base: jail
- Plural: jail, jails
- Base: jail
- 3rd Person Singular: jails
- Present Participle: jailing
- Past: jailed
get out of jail free card
1way to avoid punishment
Something that lets a person avoid a punishment or bad result that they normally should get.
- His famous last name seemed like a get out of jail free card.
- Winning public support was her get out of jail free card in politics.
- Some people think money acts as a get out of jail free card for the rich.
go to jail
1be sent to jail
To be taken by the police or court to jail as punishment for a crime.
- If you drink and drive, you could go to jail.
- He went to jail for three years for fraud.
- People who do not pay their taxes may go to jail.
in jail
1inside jail as prisoner
Kept in a jail and not free to leave.
- Her brother is in jail for robbery.
- He spent the night in jail after the fight.
- Many protesters are still in jail without trial.
jail sentence
1order to spend time in jail
A court’s decision that a person must spend a set time in jail.
- He received a three-year jail sentence for the robbery.
- The judge said a jail sentence was necessary to protect the public.
- Her jail sentence was reduced after she apologized to the victims.
jail time
1time spent in jail
The period of time someone stays in jail as a punishment.
- He served his jail time and is now trying to rebuild his life.
- The judge said she deserved jail time for the crime.
- New laws could mean more jail time for repeat offenders.
out of jail
1no longer in jail
Free again after being in jail.
- He will be out of jail next month.
- She got out of jail early for good behavior.
- After ten years out of jail, he finally found steady work.
sent to jail
1officially put in jail
Ordered by a court to go to jail as punishment.
- He was sent to jail for ten years.
- Three people were sent to jail after the trial.
- She fears being sent to jail if she returns to her country.
stay out of jail
1avoid going to jail
To avoid going to jail, especially by obeying the law.
- He promised his mother he would stay out of jail this time.
- Good lawyers helped him stay out of jail.
- She works hard now and says that keeps her busy and out of jail.
throw in jail
1put someone in jail harshly
To put someone in jail, often suddenly or in a strict or unfair way.
- They threatened to throw him in jail if he didn’t pay the fine.
- The dictator would throw journalists in jail for asking hard questions.
- You can’t just throw people in jail without a fair trial.
rot in jail
5spend long time in jail
To stay in jail for a very long time, usually in bad conditions and with no hope of leaving soon.
- The judge said he hoped the killer would rot in jail.
- They are afraid their son will rot in jail if the law does not change.
- Many political prisoners are left to rot in jail for years.
rot in jail
6Suffer in jail for years
To stay in jail for a very long time and suffer there, often used when someone strongly wishes this to happen to a criminal.
- He deserves to rot in jail for what he did to those children.
- The judge told him he would rot in jail if he ever broke the law again.