arrest

Am I under arrest?

Said when one is trying to determine if the police will take them into custody. A: "Oh my God, am I under arrest?" B: "What? No, I'm just giving you a parking ticket."

under arrest

In police custody, as after committing a crime. The policeman stated that the criminal was under arrest and then handcuffed him.

See also: arrest

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*under arrest

arrested and in the custody of the police in preparation for the filing of a charge. (*Typically: be ~; put someone ~.) Stop where you are! You are under arrest! Am I under arrest, officer? What did I do?

See also: arrest

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

under arrest

In police custody, as in They put him under arrest and charged him with stealing a car. [Late 1300s]

See also: arrest

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.