above suspicion

above suspicion

Not suspected of any wrongdoing or crime. Because everyone thought he was such a good citizen, he remained above suspicion after the robbery. An innocent-looking young girl like you could get the money and still be totally above suspicion with the cops. No, don't dismiss the husband yet—in murder cases like this, the husband is never above suspicion.

See also: above, suspicion

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*above suspicion

[for one] to be honest enough that no one would suspect one; in a position where one could not be suspected. (This is a translation of words attributed to Julius Caesar, who divorced his wife, Pompeia, on the grounds of her possible involvement in a public scandal; Caesar stated, "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.") (*Typically: be ~; keep oneself ~; remain ~.) The general is a fine old man, completely above suspicion.

See also: above, suspicion

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

above suspicion

So trustworthy as never to be suspected of wrongdoing, as in "The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion" (Charles Merivale, A History of the Romans under the Empire, 1850). The phrase was given further currency when it was used for the title of a very popular World War II spy film starring Joan Crawford ( Above Suspicion, 1943). A similar idiom using above in the sense of "beyond" is above the law, usually describing an individual or business behaving as though exempt from rules or laws that apply to others.

See also: above, suspicion

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.