put somebody in the dock

put (one) in the dock

To subject one to intense scrutiny or examination; to accuse or assign blame to one. The "dock" is the place in a courtroom where a defendant sits during a trial. They're putting everyone in the dock until they can figure out who stole the money from the safe.

See also: dock, put

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

put somebody in the ˈdock

accuse somebody of doing something wrong: The government is being put in the dock for failing to warn the public about the flu epidemic.

The dock in a court of law is the place where the person who has been accused of a crime stands or sits during a trial.

See also: dock, put, somebody

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017