break a/the law

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break a/the law

To do something that is illegal. If you shoplift, you are breaking the law, period. The statutes are different in different places so sometimes you can break a law without even knowing it!

break a law

and break the law

to fail to obey a law; to act contrary to a law. Lisa broke the law when she drove the wrong way on a one-way street. If you never break the law, you will never get arrested.

See also: break, law

References in classic literature ?

Demetrios Contos not only never broke the law again, but he became a very good friend of ours, and on more than one occasion he ran up to Benicia to have a gossip with us.

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So far there had been no exception to its tacit rule that those who broke the law of probity must pay; and every one was aware that even Beaufort and Beaufort's wife would be offered up unflinchingly to this principle.

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The Nairobi county chief admits that Wangare broke the law but tells his colleague that he will issue a permit, raising questions about his warnings that all illegal buildings in the capital will be torn down.

[VIDEO] I'm under Uhuru's thumb, Sonko says, admits illegal release of Waititu's wife

Whether FBI Director James Comey broke the law may hinge on whether he had political motivations or was merely doing his job by reviving Democrat Hillary Clinton's email controversy just days before the Nov.

Uproar over whether FBI chief broke law by raising new Clinton emails

CLAIMS that Keith Vaz broke the law are being probed by police.

Cops probing sex scandal British MP

As an internet trolling expert, I would argue that the person who posted a video of Chris Herriot's speech to YouTube broke the law.

Knee-jerk reaction; COMMENT DEBATE & YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES

FORMER US presidential hopeful John Edwards yesterday denied he broke the law when he spent almost $1million to cover up his love child shame.

Edwards cover-up charges

Christopher Graham said the internet giant broke the law when Street View cars collected personal data from unsecured wi-fi networks.

Anger as guilty Google escapes

"Plus, those who broke the law weren't penalized," he added.

Ban on live poultry to go nationwide

Thanks, whoever it was in the Greenside area of Huddersfield who thought 'me, me, me' as they broke the law.

Fireworks law-breakers; Mailbag letters also appear online at www.examiner.co.uk/views-and-blogs/reader-letters

Summary: The Duchess of York is reportedly facing arrest over claims she broke the law by taking part in a TV documentary about Turkish orphans.

Duchess 'faces Turkish police grilling'

citizens who broke the law smuggling guns to the nascent Jewish state proved there are times when it's acceptable to break the law.

Clinton: Israel's Birth Proved OK to Ignore Laws

SO, are our labour Leaders actually going to claim that even though the donations broke the law, because they were unaware of the lawbreaking they should face no action ?

online views

Bernstein replied, simply, "Yes." O'Reilly: "How did she break the law?" Bernstein: "She broke the law if, indeed, she perjured herself ...

"Really straightforward"

"The letter is not only anti-gay and offensive, but Pastor Combs broke the law and should be punished accordingly" said Scan Kosofsky, Triangle Foundation's Director of Policy.