English idiom

behind bars

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

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Figurative meaning

Why this phrase?

Prisoners were traditionally confined behind metal bars, so the physical image stands for imprisonment generally.

Example

“The fraud scheme ended with its organizer behind bars.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

catch someone red-handed

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

face the music

To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.

monkey's paw

something that grants what you asked for while exacting a terrible, unforeseen price; a wish fulfilled in the worst possible way

Pandora's box

an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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