court (redirected from courting)

appear in court

to go to a court of law as a participant. She has to appear in court tomorrow. I have to appear in court for my traffic violation.

See also: appear

have the ball in one's court 

1. Lit. to have a ball belonging to a game played on a court on one's side of the court. You have the ball in your court, so hit it back to me!

2. . Fig. to be responsible for the next move in some process; to have to make a response to something that someone else has started. You have the ball in your court now. You have to answer the attorney's questions. There was no way that Liz could avoid responding. She had the ball in her court.

See also: ball, have

kangaroo court

a bogus or illegal court. Is this a staff meeting or a kangaroo court? You have turned this interview into a kangaroo court.

See also: kangaroo

laugh something out of court

to dismiss something presented in earnest as ridiculous. The committee laughed the suggestion out of court. Bob's request for a large salary increase was laughed out of court.

See also: laugh, out

pay court to someone

Fig. to solicit someone's attention; to woo someone. The lawyer was thought to be paying court to too many politicians. The lobbyist paid court to all the influential members of Congress.

See also: pay

stand up in court

[for a case] to survive a test in a court of law. Do you think that this case will stand up in court? These charges will never stand up in court. They are too vague.

See also: stand, up

take someone to court

to sue someone; to force someone to appear in court. I will take you to court if you persist in pestering my client. Don was taken to court in a negligence suit.

See also: take

the ball is in someone's court

Fig. to be someone else's move, play, or turn. (From tennis.) The ball's in your court now. You do something. I can't do anything as long as the ball is in John's court.

See also: ball

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a full-court press  (American)

a big effort to achieve something The Mayor has urged a full-court press for civil rights and fair housing in the city.

See also: press

a kangaroo court

a court of law which is not official and which judges someone in an unfair way A kangaroo court was set up by the strikers to deal with people who had refused to stop working.

See also: kangaroo

get/have your day in court  (American & Australian)

to get an opportunity to give your opinion on something or to explain your actions after they have been criticized She was fiercely determined to get her day in court and the TV interview would give it to her.

See also: day, get

hold court  (humorous)

to get a lot of attention from a group of people by talking in a way that is entertaining, especially on social occasions

Usage notes: In the past, a king or queen held court when they talked to the people who gave them advice.

You'll find Mick holding court in the kitchen.

See also: hold

laugh something/somebody out of court

to refuse to think seriously about an idea, belief or a possibility (usually passive) At the meeting, her proposal was laughed out of court. Anyone who had made such a ludicrous suggestion would have been laughed out of court

See also: laugh, out

the ball is in somebody's court

if the ball is in someone's court, they have to do something before any progress can be made in a situation

Usage notes: In a game of tennis, if the ball is in your court then it is your turn to hit the ball.

I've told him he can have his job back if he apologizes. The ball's in his court now.

See carry the ball, drop the ball, play ball, the whole ball of wax

See also: ball

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have your day in court

to have the opportunity to make a complaint publicly and to have it judged fairly The attorneys said they were pleased that their clients got their day in court.

See also: day, have

hold court

to attract people who want your attention The actress held court with the reporters and photographers who followed her everywhere.

Etymology: based on the idea of a king who holds court (surrounds himself with people of high social rank and people who give advice)

See also: hold

the ball is in your court

you need to react or answer We made a reasonable offer for the house, and now the ball is in their court.

Etymology: based on the sports meaning of court (the playing area in games like tennis)

See also: ball