Kangaroo court Meaning in English
expression
Definition
An unofficial court or a group that pretends to have legal authority but ignores proper legal procedures and gives unfair or predetermined judgments.
Usage & Nuances
Always informal, often critical or negative. Used to accuse a process or decision of being unfair, biased, or not real justice. Common in political, social, and legal discussions. Not used for real courts; it's a metaphor.
Example Sentences
The workers felt the meeting was a kangaroo court.
basic
He refused to take part in the kangaroo court.
basic
The manager called a kangaroo court to blame someone for the mistake.
basic
That investigation was a total kangaroo court—the outcome was obvious from the start.
natural
Don’t waste your time, it’s just another kangaroo court with no real justice.
natural
Whenever someone disagreed with the boss, she set up a kangaroo court to humiliate them.
natural