trial
noun /ˈtraɪəl/
/ˈtraɪəl/
Idioms - [uncountable, countable] a formal examination of evidence in court by a judge and often a jury, to decide if somebody accused of a crime is guilty or not
- a murder/criminal trial
- on trial He's on trial for murder.
- She will stand trial/go on trial for fraud.
- He should have been arrested and put on trial.
- He was facing trial on a murder charge.
- The men were arrested but not brought to trial.
- She is awaiting trial on corruption charges.
- He did not receive a fair trial.
- the right to trial by jury
- She was detained without trial.
- a trial judge/lawyer/court
- She became a key witness in the trial.
- They will lose their right to a jury trial.
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justiceBreaking the law- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of indecent assault
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
- sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
- take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- pass sentence on somebody
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
- be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
Culture juriesjuriesUnder the legal system of England and Wales, and also that of Scotland, a person accused of a serious crime who pleads ‘not guilty’ to the crime will be tried by a jury. Juries also hear some civil cases (= when people disagree about their rights) but this is very rare. In the US juries are also used in both criminal and civil cases, though the rules vary from state to state.In Britain jurors (= jury members) are selected at random for each trial from lists of adults who have the right to vote. They must be between the ages of 18 and 70. Anybody called for jury service usually has to attend court for about two weeks, although some cases may go on for much longer. In England and Wales 12 people sit on a jury, in Scotland 15. A larger number of people are asked to attend court and the final jury is selected at random from among them. Lawyers representing either side in a case have the right to object to a particular person being on the jury.After the jury has heard the evidence presented by both sides, it retires to the jury room, a private room, to discuss the case. When all members of the jury agree, they return their verdict (= go back into court and say whether the accused is guilty or not guilty). In Scotland they can also return a verdict of not proven, which means that the accused has not been proved guilty and they can go free. The verdict is announced by the foreman (= the person chosen by the jury as their leader). Sometimes the jury cannot all agree and the judge may accept a majority verdict, provided that no more than two members of the jury disagree. If no majority verdict is reached, this is called a hung jury and the trial is abandoned and started again with a different jury. It is not the responsibility of the jury to decide punishment, though in certain civil cases they may decide how much compensation (= money given by one person another to cancel out damage, loss, etc. caused) should be paid.In the US most juries have 12 members, though some have only six. Otherwise the system is very similar to that in England and Wales. When people are called for jury duty they must go, but people who cannot leave their jobs or homes can be excused. Before a trial begins lawyers ask questions to see if jurors will be impartial (= do not have strong opinions that would prevent them making a decision based on the facts). Lawyers can challenge for cause, if they can give the judge a good reason why somebody should not be a juror. They also have a number of peremptory challenges, which means they can object to somebody without giving a reason. In some trials it can be difficult to find 12 people who are impartial, especially if a case has received a lot of attention in the news. Lawyers sometimes do research to find out what kind of person is most likely to support their side, and use challenges to keep other people off the jury. In a criminal trial the jury decides whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty, but does not decide on a punishment. In a civil trial they may decide how much money should be paid in compensation. If the jury cannot reach a verdict it is declared a mistrial, the trial is abandoned and a retrial is held with a new jury.see also show trialWordfinder- abide by something
- court
- crime
- justice
- law
- legal
- police
- prosecute
- punish
- trial
Wordfinder- accuse
- appeal
- counsel
- defendant
- evidence
- justice
- offence
- plea
- prosecution
- trial
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justiceb2- A series of show trials of former senior officials of the ousted regime took place.
- A trial date has been set for May 10.
- More than a hundred witnesses gave evidence at the trial.
- Opposition leaders had been jailed without trial.
- She faces trial for murder.
- The judge halted the trial when it emerged witnesses had been threatened.
- The judge ordered a new trial on the grounds that evidence had been withheld.
- The letters that were shown during his trial turned out to be forgeries.
- The rebels were brutally executed after summary trials.
- The trial collapsed after a key prosecution witness admitted lying.
- (figurative) The president faces trial by television tonight when he takes part in a live debate.
- The case never came to trial.
- He will go to trial on charges of robbery and assault.
- Parker was committed for trial yesterday at Southwark Crown Court.
- A trial date will be set for sometime in the spring.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fair
- unfair
- full
- …
- come to
- face
- go on
- …
- proceed
- take place
- begin
- …
- attorney
- court
- judge
- …
- at the trial
- during the trial
- on trial
- …
- [countable, uncountable] the process of testing the ability, quality or performance of somebody/something, especially before you make a final decision about them
- a clinical/field/randomized/controlled trial
- The new drug is undergoing clinical trials.
- Australia and the US have conducted joint trials of the drone.
- She agreed to employ me for a trial period.
- on trial We had the machine on trial for a week.
- The system was introduced on a trial basis for one month.
- a trial separation (= of a couple whose marriage is in difficulties)
- a trial of strength (= a contest to see who is stronger)
Collocations Scientific researchScientific researchTheory- formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
- build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
- develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework
- advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
- explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
- make a prediction/an inference
- base a prediction/your calculations on something
- investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
- design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
- do research/an experiment/an analysis
- make observations/measurements/calculations
- carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
- run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
- repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
- replicate a study/the results/the findings
- observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behaviour
- fund/support the research/project/study
- seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
- collect/gather/extract data/information
- yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
- analyse/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
- consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
- fit the data/model
- confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
- prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
- draw/make/reach the same conclusions
- read/review the records/literature
- describe/report an experiment/a study
- present/publish/summarize the results/findings
- present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal
Extra ExamplesTopics Scientific researchb2- A new stocktaking system is currently under trial at the supermarket.
- There's a 30-day free trial of the software available.
- Human trials of the vaccine could begin within two years.
- The trial showed a dramatic reduction in side effects.
- a trial involving hundreds of patients
- Scientists have reported encouraging results in trials of the new GM rice.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clinical
- experimental
- field
- …
- carry out
- conduct
- do
- …
- demonstrate something
- show something
- find something
- …
- period
- run
- data
- …
- on trial
- under trial
- on a trial basis
- trial by fire
- trial and error
- …
- [countable, usually plural] (North American English also tryout)a competition or series of tests to find the best players for a sports team or an important event
- Olympic trials
Extra Examples- He had a trial with Chelsea when he was young.
- As a teenager, he had trials for several top clubs.
- She just missed selection when she came third in the trials.
- Gates played his second trial game in midfield.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clinical
- experimental
- field
- …
- carry out
- conduct
- do
- …
- demonstrate something
- show something
- find something
- …
- period
- run
- data
- …
- on trial
- under trial
- on a trial basis
- trial by fire
- trial and error
- …
- [countable, usually plural] an event at which animals compete or perform
- horse trials
- [countable] an experience or a person that causes difficulties for somebody
- the trials and tribulations of married life
- trial to somebody She was a sore trial to her family at times.
- (figurative) My first day at work was a trial by fire.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- real
- trial to
- trials and tribulations
law
test
in sport
for animals
difficult experience
Word Originlate Middle English (as a noun): from Anglo-Norman French, or from medieval Latin triallum. The verb dates from the 1980s.
Idioms
trial and error
- the process of solving a problem by trying various methods until you find a method that is successful
- Children learn to use computer programs by trial and error.