📖 Meaning
To bring someone to justice by applying the law. It means to punish or sanction a wrongdoer according to legal statutes, leaving no room for leniency.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the 'Book of the Later Han' (《后汉书》), in the biography of Feng Yan. It recounts how even Emperor Wen of Han, known for his wisdom, and Wei Shang, renowned for his loyalty, could be deemed guilty if judged strictly by the letter of the law. The phrase contrasts the rigidity of legal punishment with the grace of virtuous governance, highlighting that the same act can be viewed as a crime under law or as a merit under benevolence.
💡 Example Usage
违法者必将被绳之以法，绝不姑息。
Lawbreakers will certainly be brought to justice without any tolerance.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 绳之以法
- Pinyin: shéng zhī yǐ fǎ
- Literal Translation: bind, them, with, law
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4