ENGLISH
REFERENCE

assault and battery

idiom
Meaning

The combination of two violent crimes: assault (the threat of violence) and battery (physical violence). This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.


Examples
SIMPLE

The man faces charges of assault and battery after the fight.

CONTEXTUAL

The police arrested the suspect for assault and battery after he threatened and then hit his neighbor.

COMPLEX

Following the violent altercation at the stadium, the prosecutor filed formal charges of assault and battery against the individuals involved in the brawl.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    change one's battery

    To alter the direction of attacking; to take a new approach to try to achieve an objective.

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