cross-examine

cross-examine (someone)

1. In law, to question a witness or suspect after the opposing side has already done so, as to undermine or clarify their testimony. I have doubts that that witness is telling the truth, and I'll expose it when I cross-examine him.
2. By extension, to question someone thoroughly. Geez Mom, why are you cross-examining me? I told you the truth—I was at Kelly's house all night.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cross-examine someone

to question someone in court who has already been questioned by the opposing side; to question a suspect or a witness at great length. The lawyer plans to cross-examine the witness tomorrow morning. The police cross-examined the suspect for three hours.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • cross-examine (someone)
  • examine
  • good question
  • good question!
  • make a martyr of (one)
  • martyr
  • be on the fence
  • Dot or feather?
  • argue the point
  • that is
References in periodicals archive
The camp of Sereno decried the denial of her motion to be represented by a counsel and to cross-examine witnesses through her lawyers saying the event was a "sad day for justice."
(22) Since the Supreme Court had not issued an opinion on the nature of the right in question, the Eighth Circuit concluded that due process does not afford social security claimants an absolute right to cross-examine individuals who submit a report.
It is impossible to cross-examine them without knowing them on the basis of their statements,' it stressed.
Meanwhile, Dominic Ayine, Lawyer for Samuel Nartey George, says he disagrees with the decision of the Emile Short Commission denying them the opportunity to cross-examine past witnesses.
and Juan Ponce Enrile, who were sitting senators at that time, and were not even given the right to cross-examine as that may be conducted during the trial.
MANILA, Philippines The House of Representatives Committee on Justice has voted 30-4 dismissing the appeal of Chief Justice Maria LourdesSerenoto allow her counsels to cross-examine witnesses in her impeachment proceeding.
This was how Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's camp reacted to the decision of the House justice committee on Wednesday denying her to be represented by a counsel and to cross-examine through her lawyers witnesses and complainant at the hearing.
"Moreover we are denied the right to cross-examine what we know to be false allegations and we say this process actually discredits the important work of the inquiry.
The anti-terrorism court judge Habibur Rehman said that the report compiled by the nine-member judicial commission from Pakistan and their Indian counterparts was unlawful because the defendants were not given the right to cross-examine the witnesses.
12 -- The 2G Spectrum scam case, one of the biggest financial scandals to rock the country as well as the Manmohan Singh government, on Friday entered a crucial stage with a Delhi court commencing the trial amidst protest by former Telecom Minister and prime accused A Raja refusing to cross-examine witnesses saying trial cannot start when the probe is still underway.
Judges adjourned the case to January 11 to cross-examine further witnesses.The defendant is accused of attacking his neighbour when he was standing outside his house, knocking him unconscious.
As the claimant in the unfair dismissal case, it was expected that Mr Collins would read out his witness statement today, before giving James Taylor, representing the National Trust, the chance to cross-examine him.
In the High Court in Belfast a lawyer for Freddie Scappaticci - the republican alleged to have been the army's top spy inside the IRA - said: "It looks likely that I will be applying for leave to cross-examine the Minister."
A DOCTOR jailed for indecently assaulting 10 women patients was allowed to cross-examine one of his victims in open court yesterday.
The counsel said he was likely to make an application to cross-examine the witness when he resumes his evidence on Monday.