offend against

Related to offend against: offend against the law

offend against

1. To affront, betray, or violate the principles or laws of someone or something. Anyone who offends against the moral codes of our town will face strict, merciless punishment. Pardon me, madam. I did not mean to offend against you or your fair virtues. Police have been given the authority to arrest anyone offending against this law without a warrant or a trial.
2. To commit a sexual crime against someone. The team doctor had systematically offended against young gymnasts for nearly 20 years before he was finally arrested.
See also: offend
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

offend against someone or something

to anger or affront someone or something. We do not wish to offend against anyone. He didn't realize that he offended against their cultural values.
See also: offend
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • have a tight grip on (someone or something)
  • have a tight rein on (someone or something)
  • keep a tight rein on
  • keep a tight rein on (someone or something)
  • keep a tight rein on somebody/something
  • keep a tight rein on someone/something
  • death on
  • death on (someone or something)
  • death on someone/something
  • death on something
References in periodicals archive
Dear Editor, Cardinal Keith O'Brien has oft expressed his animus against homosexuals who offend against the instructions he claims to receive from his imaginary friend.
"We seek to tackle those who use the internet as a vehicle to offend against children; be it grooming for sexual activity or making, possessing or distributing indecent images.
This case involved the among other things the discussion of the Validity of criminal legislation passed ad hominem and ex post facto, and the Competence of Parliament to pass laws which offend against fundamental principles of justice
That is to say, if you can offend against God to preserve life, you can certainly offend against a person.
We need to reaffirm the constitutionally guaranteed right to propagate one's religion which these observations in the judgment offend against.
Emerald Isle flanker Ferris urged fellow countryman Alan Lewis to dish out 10-minute yellow cards if New Zealand offend against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Judge Fox QC Judge Fox told Jeffries, now of Balfour Street, Oldham: "When you were a child you began to offend against another child.
I hope Christ meant it when he said those who offend against little children can expect horrible punishment.
Popova commented on their opinions by saying: "Let's cool down our emotions and, because of a particular attitude or desire to say how much we do not want a person to become an EC Commissioner, let us not offend against something that is clear, open and specific, and is based on Bulgarian legislation.
First also objected to the idea that hebephilia needed to be added to the definition because many men do not differentiate between prepubescent and pubescent children, and offend against both.
"During the next 12 months it is our intention to continue to investigate all reported incidents and bring to task those that deliberately offend against environmental legislation."
It teaches its members that they should develop a sense of sin when they offend against the natural world.
CARI is holding a conference, the first of its kind in Ireland, called The Last Taboo - Women Who Sexually Offend Against Children next Thursday to address the issue.
So today we find Great Britain can be an open house for all the scumbags in Europe and countries beyond and we have no laws in force with which to deport them when they offend against the laws of our land.
Because these acts are done on private property, and not in public, they do not offend against the test of indecency, the Court said.