ENGLISH
REFERENCE

legal beagle

idiom
Meaning

A lawyer, specifically one regarded as astute and skilful.


Origin

disputed origin

From legal + beagle. Beagle was probably chosen for the rhyme and because beagles were traditionally used for hunting hares or rabbits, due to their keen sense of smell and tracking instinct. Compare legal eagle.

Examples
SIMPLE

You should hire that legal beagle to help with your contract.

CONTEXTUAL

When the company faced a difficult lawsuit, they hired a top legal beagle to represent them in court.

COMPLEX

The firm assigned their most formidable legal beagle to the case, ensuring that every complex regulation was navigated with absolute precision.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    legal duty

    A duty prescribed by the law, to act or forbear from acting.

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