on trial
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective Phrase 1. Undergoing a formal examination in a court of law: Used to describe a person who is the defendant in a legal proceeding where evidence is presented to determine their guilt or innocence. 2. Being tested or evaluated: Used to describe a product, system, or idea that is in a period of assessment to determine its effectiveness, quality, or suitability.
Usage Examples
Legal Context:
- The accused is on trial for fraud and will appear in court next week.
- While on trial, he maintained his innocence.
Testing/Evaluation Context:
- The new software is on trial for 30 days before we decide to purchase it.
- The revised teaching methods are on trial this semester to see if they improve results.
Advanced Usage
- "to put/place someone/something on trial": To initiate a formal legal process against someone or, figuratively, to subject an idea or institution to intense scrutiny.
- The prosecutor sought to put the company on trial for environmental violations.
- The recent scandal has placed the government's integrity on trial.
Variants and Related Words
- Trial (n): The formal examination of evidence in a court; a test of performance.
- Try (v): To examine and decide a case in a legal forum; to test something.
Synonyms
- In court: Facing legal proceedings.
- Under scrutiny: Being closely examined.
- Being tested/assessed: Undergoing evaluation.
- On probation: Often used for a conditional test period, especially for employment.
Related Idioms
- "A trial run": A preliminary test of a system or process.
- We'll do a trial run of the event setup tomorrow.
- "Stand trial": To be the defendant in a legal trial.
- He will stand trial next month.
Adjective
- in the process of being tested or tried