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3. in the dock

in the dock

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in the dock

1. On trial in a court, especially for a criminal case. The once all-powerful executive has been in the dock for the past month over allegations of money laundering within his company.

2. Subjected to intense scrutiny or examination. John found himself in the dock after his wife caught him having an affair with another woman.

See also: dock

in the dock

On trial, especially in a criminal case. For example, The accused stood in the dock through the entire proceeding. This expression employs dock in the sense of "an enclosed place for the defendant in a court of law," a usage dating from the late 1500s, and is used even in American courts where no such enclosure exists.

See also: dock