Arrest vs Take the batman into custody

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Arrest

FormalTop 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Take the batman into custody

Top 3,000 (common)
Most formal: ArrestMost common: Arrest
 ArrestTake the batman into custody
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈrest/","/əˈrests/","/əˈrestɪd/","/əˈrestɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈrest/","/əˈrests/","/əˈrestɪd/","/əˈrestɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //teɪk ði ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//🇺🇸 //teɪk ðə ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//
MeaningTo taken someone by the police because they think they did something wrong.To put someone in police care.
ExampleThe police decided to arrest the suspect after gathering enough evidence.The police had to take the batman into custody after the incident.
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsarrest someone, arrest warrant, arrest for theft, arrest on suspiciontake into custody, place in custody, hold in custody
Antonymsrelease, free-
Common mistakesConfused with 'detain' which means to hold someone temporarily., Using it without an object, such as saying 'He was arrested' instead of 'They arrested him.', Misusing the term for non-legal situations.Confused with 'take' + noun and 'take' + infinitive., Using 'custody' without context about arrest., Mixing up 'batman' as a character rather than a person.
Usage notesUsed primarily in legal contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation unless discussing crime or law topics. Can sound too serious for light discussions.This phrase is often used in law enforcement contexts. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings when discussing arrests or detainment.

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Arrest
Take the batman into custody

Frequently asked questions: Arrest vs Take the batman into custody

What's the difference between Arrest and Take the batman into custody?

Arrest: To taken someone by the police because they think they did something wrong. Take the batman into custody: To put someone in police care.

Which is more formal: Arrest and Take the batman into custody?

Arrest is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Arrest and Take the batman into custody?

Arrest is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Arrest: The police decided to arrest the suspect after gathering enough evidence. Take the batman into custody: The police had to take the batman into custody after the incident.

Can I use Arrest and Take the batman into custody interchangeably?

Not always. Arrest and Take the batman into custody 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.

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