English Idiom – Kangaroo Court.
An unofficial or unauthorised “mock” court. This expression can be used to refer to an unofficial court or a court that exists to come to a predetermined conclusion. This may be a court that ignores recognised standards of law or justice – or that carries no official standing in its location.
Mock trials, show trials and sham trials are terms used to refer to unofficial or fake trials.
Related Expressions:
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- A body of people with no real power have decided to that you can no longer remain part of their club.
- The government has created a mock court that will decide if they themselves are guilty of some wrongdoings.
- A group of people hold a mock court session to find a local person “guilty” of some petty crime.
Example:
- “There were accusations that the recent tribunal in Paris was nothing more than a kangaroo court – the final outcome was never in doubt.”
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Look it upKangaroo courtWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
An unofficial or unfair “court” that ignores proper justice, often with the result already decided.
A pretend or practice trial, often used for training, or a fake trial that isn’t legally valid.
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