long arm of the law

English

Noun

long arm of the law

(idiomatic, almost always preceded by the) The influence or effectiveness of law enforcement institutions; law enforcement officers collectively.
- 1889, Wilkie Collins, The Legacy of Cain, ch. 60:
  It is my belief that I could have felt no greater dismay, if the long arm of the Law had laid its hold on me while he was speaking.
- 1979, "Pass the Buck," Time, 3 Sept:
  The long arm of the law does not protect banks the way it used to.
- 2008, Lisa Rein, "Jurisdictions Share Data on Ex-Offenders," Washington Post, 12 Sept. (retrieved 6 Spet. 2009):
  "Repeat violent offenders will hopscotch over state lines to avoid the long arm of the law," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Translations

influence or effectiveness of law enforcement

Chinese:
Mandarin: 法網 (zh), 法网 (zh) (wǎngluó), 網羅 (zh), 网罗 (zh) (fǎwǎng)
Danish: lovens lange arm
Dutch: lange arm der wet
Finnish: lain pitkä koura, lain koura
Greek: τσιμπίδα του νόμου f (tsimpída tou nómou)

Italian: braccio della legge
Norwegian:
Bokmål: lovens lange arm

Nynorsk: lovas lange arm, lovens lange arm
Swedish: lagens långa arm

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