Cool MateForbidden vs It's against the law
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forbidden
FormalTop 3,000 (common)
It's against the law
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Forbidden
| Forbidden | It's against the law | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fəˈbɪd.ən//🇺🇸 //fərˈbɪd.ən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪts əˈɡeɪnst ðə lɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪts əˈɡeɪnst ðə lɔ// |
| Meaning | Not allowed or banned. | It is illegal. |
| Example | The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. | Driving without a license is really {{highlight}}against the law{{highlight}}. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | forbidden zone, forbidden love, forbidden activities, forbidden fruit, forbidden city | against the rules, against the regulations, against public policy |
| Antonyms | allowed, permitted, legal | it's legal, it's allowed |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prohibited' - both mean similar things, but 'forbidden' is less formal., Incorrectly used as a verb - 'forbidden' is strictly an adjective., Using 'forbidden' in positive contexts - it always suggests something disallowed. | Confusing with 'it's legal' meaning allowed., Using with informal language., Misusing in non-legal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe something that is legally or socially unacceptable. Avoid using in casual conversations. | Use this phrase in legal contexts or when discussing rules. It's formal and not suited for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forbidden vs It's against the law
What's the difference between Forbidden and It's against the law?
Forbidden: Not allowed or banned. It's against the law: It is illegal.
Which is more common: Forbidden and It's against the law?
Forbidden is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forbidden: The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. It's against the law: Driving without a license is really {{highlight}}against the law{{highlight}}.
Can I use Forbidden and It's against the law interchangeably?
Not always. Forbidden and It's against the law are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.