Loophole

Loophole

When people make laws, rules and contracts they often use very complicated words and sentences. This is supposed to make them very precise or clear about what is expected to happen or not happen. But, in reality, it often makes the laws, rules and contracts difficult for ordinary people to understand. On the other hand, despite best efforts, there will almost always be “loopholes”.

We use the word “loophole” when something is unclear or missed out in a law, rule, or contract. It means that someone can do something that the law, rule or contract was intended to prevent. (Or not do something that it was intended to make happen).

Here are some of the ways we might use the word:

• The businessman always managed to find loopholes so that he didn’t have to pay the full rate of tax.
• A loophole in the contract meant that the firm was able to complete the work later than expected.
• She didn’t have to pay the fine because her lawyer found a loophole in the law.

Not many people know that a loophole was originally a small gap in a castle wall through which the defending army could shoot their arrows. That meaning might not be very useful now, but we can still think of a loophole as a small gap that can be used to avoid the usual rules.

_{Posted by Graham}

_{With thanks to Yulia for the idea}