# hanging offence

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hanging-offence
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A crime so serious that it is punishable by means of death by hanging.

## Examples

- In the past, stealing a horse was considered a hanging offence.
- The judge reminded the jury that treason was once a hanging offence in this country.
- During the era of harsh penal codes, even minor acts of theft were treated as a hanging offence, leaving the populace in constant fear of the gallows.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.