Dictionary

live at Her Majesty's pleasure en · VERB

Etymology

From the legal phrase at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Meanings

1. (UK, colloquial) To spend time in prison or jail.
   • 'I treat patients who are living at Her Majesty's pleasure. They come to the hospital from Full Sutton prison and they are treated in the same way as anyone else.' 1999 January 3, John Arlidge, quoting Professor Alan Roberts, “Yakuza given a helping hand by 'Mr Fingers'”, in The Observer:
   • I wrote to Charlie Bronson in prison, 'cos Charles sends me letters and amazing drawings; my mate Warwick, who is also banged up, and numerous others living at Her Majesty's pleasure 2003, Dave Courtney, The Ride's Back On, →ISBN, page 174:
   • But the quest to make our jails a less pleasant place in which to live at Her Majesty’s pleasure must never translate into a lack of care, or a slipping of basic standards. 2014 April 25, “Star comment: Youths in prison still need care”, in Shropshire Star (UK):
   • The look he gives me makes me realise I've lost him. 'Why would my uncle steal from his own brother for fifteen years? I've never found the reason, but I've heard every single excuse, courtesy of my friends living at Her Majesty's Pleasure.' 2008, Kate Harrison, The Secret Shopper's Revenge, →ISBN:

Forms

Relateds

guest of Her Majesty

Synonyms

be banged up · do porridge · do bird · be inside · serve time · do time