assault and battery

assault and battery

A violent physical attack. Although "assault and battery" is an official legal charge, the phrase can also be used conversationally to describe any sort of physical attack, however serious. The thief that attacked my son in the parking lot has been charged with assault and battery. A: "Quit punching me! Help, this is assault and battery!" B: "Ah, you're such a wuss. Go cry to Mom." You make a stupid, split second decision in the heat of the moment, and the next thing you know, you're doing jail time for assault and battery.
See also: and, assault, battery
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

assault and battery

a violent attack [upon someone] followed by a beating. (A technical legal charge.) Richard was charged with two counts of assault and battery. Dave does not go out at night because he does not want to be a victim of assault and battery.
See also: and, assault, battery
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
See also:
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