1. Home
2. Idioms
3. behind bars

behind bars

---

---

*behind bars

in jail. (*Typically: be ~; put someone ~.) Very soon, you will be behind bars for your crimes. Max should be behind bars soon for his conviction on burglary charges.

See also: bar, behind

behind bars

in prison It's impossible to imagine what it would be like to spend your whole life behind bars.

Etymology: based on the literal bars used to build a prison

See also: bar, behind

behind bars

  (informal)

in prison He spent ten years behind bars after being convicted for armed robbery.

See also: bar, behind

behind bars

In prison, as in All murderers should be put behind bars for life. The bars here refer to the iron rods used to confine prisoners. [c. 1900]

See also: bar, behind

behind bars

mod. in jail; in prison. You belong behind bars, you creep!

See also: bar, behind

behind bars

In prison.

See also: bar, behind