within the law
Not a crime
Acting in accordance with legal requirements; not violating any statute or regulation.
The phrase often carries a defensive or justifying tone, suggesting conduct that may be ethically questionable but technically permitted: Everything we did was within the law.
It can also describe the boundaries of permissible behavior: Stay within the law and you'll have no trouble.
- legalityConformance with law
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- letter of the lawExact statutory language
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- play by the rulesFollow accepted procedures
license · adherence · straight and narrow · authorization · above board · acquitted · conformity · licit · jurisdiction · color of law · document · legal eagle · loophole · integrity · permissible · fair and square · accountability · on the level