serve time

serve (one's) time

To spend the amount of time in jail as required by one's prison sentence. After serving his time, the assailant will be deported back to his home country. There's no need to harass him; he served his time and paid his debt to society.
See also: serve, time

serve time

To spend time in jail as part of a prison sentence. The CEO is now serving time for his role in defrauding thousands of customers. No way am I getting involved with your scheme. I have no interest in serving time again.
See also: serve, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

serve time

to spend a certain amount of time in jail. The criminal served ten years in jail. After the felon served his time, he was released from prison.
See also: serve, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

serve time

Undergo a prison sentence; also, work at a particular task, especially an undesirable one. For example, We couldn't hire him when we learned that he had served time for robbery, or I applied for a transfer after serving time in that chaotic department. [Late 1800s]
See also: serve, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

do/serve ˈtime

(informal) be in prison: He had done time for robbing a bank. Two of the gang are serving time for murder.
See also: serve, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • against time
  • against the clock
  • become pushed for time
  • be taken up with (someone or something)
  • any time means no time
  • any day
  • a race against time
  • (it's) time to jet off (to some place)
  • be joined at the hip
  • any time
References in periodicals archive
Merseyside prisoners are often sent to HMP Berwyn to serve time in its Category C facilities.
Mersey man dies in huge 'super jail' NEWS WIRE
He sentenced Soon, who was unrepresented, to six months' jail on each count, to be served concurrently from today, which meant Soon would only serve time of only six months for both offences.
Auto parts dealer sentenced to 12 months' jail for threatening Rela man
"We are going to launch this debate so that the relevant institutions can pass a proper decision in line with the international practice," Zaev said and added that this number of inmates and the present conditions in which they serve time wasn't the final solution.
Zaev: Prison conditions disastrous, amnesty law one of solutions
If he is found guilty of the two crimes, Brown and his bodyguard might serve time in jail.
Grammy Award Winner Chris Brown Faces Assault Charges
Geraghty has a couple of other interesting rides at the meeting, including Serve Time in the Kinnegad Beginners Chase (7.05).
Without The Bop to keep Doyle's hot run going
The remaining 38 percent had been convicted and were awaiting sentencing; had been sentenced and were serving time in jail; or were awaiting transfer to serve time in state or federal prisons.
Between June 2008 and June 2009, the U.S. jail population declined by 2.3 percent, a decline of 17,936 inmates
And he was this week sentenced to serve time in an Icelandic prison as well as having to pay the victim more than pounds 2000 for beating him up.
From goals to gaol
Atkinson's lawyer argue that if he must serve time while his appeal is pursued, he could end up in jail longer than his ultimate sentence.
In Co-Defendants Bail Request, A Hint At Conrad Black's Appeal Strategy
The 25-year-old Jason not only was previously forbidden by a judge from harassing his mother and father because he had vandalized his mother's property and beat his father, he had also been charged with vehicle theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, drunk driving, and failure to serve time in jail.
Boy gone bad
Morgan, from Louisiana, will serve time in a military prison in California and will not be eligible for parole for 20 years.
Killer mum given life
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, if recent incarceration rates remain unchanged, 5 percent of Americans will serve time at some point in their lives.
What's hot at APSA
Showers has a catalogue of previous offences that has already seen him serve time in prisons on the continent.
14 YEARS FOR CITY DRUG MAN; Showers jailed after pounds 1.19m deal
It doesn't bring Francis back, but Hurley needs to serve time for the crime he committed."
Cop killer is captured
The improving Serve Time faces no easy task off top weight in the handicap hurdle, but he has been a most impressive winner of his two races this season and can deal with the threat of Clear Riposte.
Horse Racing: QUIN CAN MASTER IT; TODAY'S RACING: TOP FIVE 2-YEAR-OLDS TO WATCH LIMERICK TODAY
The men caught smuggling it in are most likely small fish in the racket and will serve time in jail.
Hit where it hurts