in the dock

Idioms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Chow, a lawyer who is representing herself, smiled at supporters who waved enthusiastically from the public gallery as the hearing began, while Lee sat quietly in the dock taking notes with a ballpoint pen.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

A law designed to force criminals to be present in the dock for their sentencing hearings has been given Royal Assent and is now law.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

The three suspects in the dock were dressed in grey tracksuits and spoke only to confirm their names and addresses.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

At least four freemasons from the 20 or so members of the lodge are in the dock.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

He let it shine for a few moments in the dock light before he slid it back into its scabbard.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023