Example
“The original contracts remain under lock and key in the archive.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
fall in line
CEFR B1to obey or accept the rules and expectations set by a group or authority
Neutral
hold the line
CEFR B2to maintain a position, decision, or principle despite pressure
Neutral
lay down the law
CEFR B2to state rules firmly and make clear that they are not open to negotiation
Neutral
take liberties
CEFR B2behave with more freedom or authority than is acceptable, often without permission
Neutral
every which way
CEFR B1in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way
Informal
get out of hand
CEFR B1To become impossible to control.
Neutral
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.