on the right side of the law

phrase

used to say that someone is not living the life of a criminal
Now that she's out of prison she's trying to stay on the right side of the law.

Examples of on the right side of the law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Justice Department officials have argued the administration is on the right side of the law even though the project has been on a fast track. Arden Farhi, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 Questions like, Who’s really on the right side of the law? The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026 His mad impersonation skills should really land him a job on the right side of the law. Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 The family moved to Baltimore, where Capone intended to become a bookkeeper—working the numbers on the right side of the law. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Cite this Entry

“On the right side of the law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20right%20side%20of%20the%20law. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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