custody battle

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Explanation of "Custody Battle"

Definition: A "custody battle" is a legal fight between parents (or guardians) to decide who will take care of their children after a divorce or separation. In these situations, the court may get involved to determine where the children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Pronunciation: /ˈkʌs.tə.di ˈbæt.əl/
• Context: Use "custody battle" when discussing legal situations involving children and divorced or separated parents.

Example Sentence:

• "After their divorce, John and Sarah were involved in a custody battle that lasted for several months."

Advanced Usage:

• In legal discussions, you might hear terms like "joint custody" (where both parents share responsibilities) or "sole custody" (where one parent has full responsibility for the child).

Word Variants:

• Custody (noun): The care, guardianship, or control over someone, especially a child.
• Custodial (adjective): Relating to the custody of children.

Different Meanings:

• Custody: Can also refer to the state of being detained or held by law enforcement, such as being in police custody.

Synonyms:

• Child custody dispute
• Custodial dispute
• Parenting dispute

Related Idioms:

• "Fight for custody": To strive or struggle to gain the legal right to take care of a child.
• "Custody arrangement": The specific terms agreed upon regarding how custody of the children will be shared or managed.

Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren't specific phrasal verbs directly related to "custody battle," but you might encounter phrases like:
  • "Work out a custody agreement" (to negotiate the terms of child custody).

Summary:

A "custody battle" is an important term in family law, especially for those who are learning English and may encounter discussions about family, divorce, and children.

Academic

Noun

1. litigation to settle custody of the children of a divorced couple