idioms using “law”

A law unto oneself

A person who ignore the rules and makes his/her own rules

“He built a global corporation in a single decade and is considered a law unto himself.”

The law of the jungle

A situation in which normal codes of civilized behavior do not exist

“The neighborhood streets are subject to the laws of the jungle and the citizens are demanding more police presence.” Note: this phrase became popular from Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” (1894)

Lay down the law

To tell others what to do in a forceful and authoritative manner

“The classroom was in total chaos before the new teacher arrived and laid down the law.”

Take the law into one’s own hands

To take action against someone even though you have no right to do so

“The citizens have threatened to take the law into their own hands if the police don’t do something to stop the vandalism in the neighborhood.”

Murphy’s law

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong

“When we’re making the project timeline, let’s add a few months extra for Murphy’s Law.” Note: Popular reference to Edward Murphy, an American engineer, in 1958