English Vocabulary

Hold in contempt of court

Pimpanella

User since 2012
Posts: 288

29 Nov. 2012

Do you know what does "I will hold you in contempt of court" mean ? It is one of the pronunciation examples given for "contempt". I found : to hold sb/sth in contempt = mépriser qqn/ qqch, and contempt of court = outrage au tribunal. But I can't figure out what does the whole sentence mean.

5 comments

AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
29 Nov. 2012

I hold you in contempt of court. Doesn't it mean that I CONSIDER you in contempt of court? that I CATCH YOU IN THE ACT OF contempt of court. What's the context? I will hold you in contempt of court could be, for instance, that a defendant would be hold/accused/charged of contempt of court due to his demeanour. How does that grab you, Pimpanella?
I hold you in contempt of court. Doesn't it mean that I CONSIDER you in contempt of court? that I CATCH YOU IN THE ACT OF contempt of court. What's the context? I will hold you in contempt of court could be, for instance, that a defendant would be hold/accused/charged of contempt of court due to his demeanour. How does that grab you, Pimpanella?
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
29 Nov. 2012

By the way, I wonder whether the options Edit and Remove post are not availablo for a certain time after the posting.
By the way, I wonder whether the options Edit and Remove post are not availablo for a certain time after the posting.
Dwight
User since 2012
Posts: 32
3 Dec. 2012

Not abiding by the instructions and rules at court can be a legal offence by itself. I think, if you are legally summoned to the court, as a defendant or even as a key witness, and you don't appear at court, this is also considered 'contempt of court', which is a punishable offence. So, if you are legally obliged to appear at court, or, more generally, behave in a certain way at court, and you don't follow your legal obligation, that's a punishable legal offence, and you can be held accountable for it. That is what 'to be held in contempt of court' means.
Not abiding by the instructions and rules at court can be a legal offence by itself. I think, if you are legally summoned to the court, as a defendant or even as a key witness, and you don't appear at court, this is also considered 'contempt of court', which is a punishable offence. So, if you are legally obliged to appear at court, or, more generally, behave in a certain way at court, and you don't follow your legal obligation, that's a punishable legal offence, and you can be held accountable for it. That is what 'to be held in contempt of court' means.
Pimpanella
User since 2012
Posts: 288
5 Dec. 2012

Thank you Dwight for this clear explanation, and AhQ too, you both agree about the meaning. It's unlikely that I will use this expression, but if I read it I will know it.
Thank you Dwight for this clear explanation, and AhQ too, you both agree about the meaning. It's unlikely that I will use this expression, but if I read it I will know it.
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
6 Dec. 2012

Dwight's explanation con't be clearer. Thanks to him.
Dwight's explanation con't be clearer. Thanks to him.

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