withdraw the charge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "withdraw the charge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts when someone wants to retract or cancel an accusation or claim. Example: "After further consideration, the plaintiff decided to withdraw the charge against the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Williams declines to withdraw the charge 35 years on.

The Guardian - Books

If police withdraw the charge against Kuether, the case against Palmer and Germain collapses.

The Guardian

In this account, that was the extent of the manipulation; when Nicholas W. Maier, an ex-employee, alleged insider trading in his recent memoir, "Trading With the Enemy," Cramer forced him to withdraw the charge.

The New York Times - Books

I ask the court therefore to withdraw the charge". Ryan's counsel, Raymond Lewis, said the pair met several years ago.

BBC

It is actually not clear that Dodd is right to withdraw the charge against McDowell, given the latter's insistence that facts are "perceptible … an aspect of the perceptible world" (McDowell 1996: 26; cf. Dodd 2008a: 182008a

SEP

In reply, MCC rejected the Australian Board's charges and insisted that they withdraw the charge of bad sportsmanship.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

So Sergeant Williams and the first sergeant pressed Sergeant Feyer to withdraw the charges.

The New York Times

If the panel is satisfied, it is expected to ask the Attorney General, Frank Kahn, to withdraw the charges against Mr. Botha.

The New York Times

"The director of public prosecutions has decided to withdraw the charges on the basis that an admission of guilt fine is paid," Webster said.

The Guardian

"Given the state of the evidence in this case, I have no alternative but to withdraw the charges against Mr Kenyatta," the Gambian lawyer explained.

The Guardian

It seemed apparent that someone was pushing the issue to try and keep the case going rather than withdraw the charges.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "withdraw the charge", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is withdrawing the charge and why. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "withdraw the charge" loosely. This phrase specifically implies a formal retraction of an accusation, not just a general disagreement or change of opinion. Use more appropriate language for informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "withdraw the charge" functions as a verb phrase, where 'withdraw' is the verb and 'the charge' is the object. This phrase indicates the action of retracting or canceling a formal accusation or claim, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "withdraw the charge" is a grammatically sound and contextually appropriate term used to denote the formal retraction of an accusation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, with some presence in scientific and wiki contexts. Related phrases such as "drop the charges" or "retract the accusation" can serve as effective alternatives. When employing this phrase, clarity is crucial to ensure the intended meaning is accurately conveyed. Keep in mind that misuse may involve employing the phrase in informal settings, which would not be appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drop the charges

This alternative replaces the singular "charge" with the plural "charges", implying multiple accusations are being retracted.

retract the accusation

This alternative uses "accusation" instead of "charge", focusing on the act of accusing.

rescind the allegation

This alternative uses more formal language, replacing "charge" with "allegation" and "withdraw" with "rescind".

nullify the indictment

This option is more specific to legal contexts where a formal accusation has been made.

repeal the accusation

Similar to 'rescind', it suggests a formal reversal of an accusation.

take back the claim

This alternative is less formal, suitable for non-legal contexts.

disavow the assertion

This alternative uses stronger language, implying a complete rejection of the original statement.

abandon the prosecution

Focuses on the legal process being discontinued.

cease the prosecution

This phrase indicates a termination of legal proceedings, which can be due to a charge being withdrawn.

shelve the indictment

Suggests the charges are put aside indefinitely, potentially without complete removal.

FAQs

What does it mean to "withdraw the charge"?

To "withdraw the charge" means to formally retract or drop an accusation, claim, or indictment, typically in a legal or official setting.

What can I say instead of "withdraw the charge"?

You can use alternatives like "drop the charges", "retract the accusation", or "rescind the allegation" depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "withdraw the charge"?

The phrase "withdraw the charge" is appropriate in legal, formal, or official contexts where an accusation is being formally retracted. This includes legal proceedings, official complaints, and formal statements.

What's the difference between "withdraw the charge" and "dismiss the case"?

"Withdraw the charge" refers specifically to retracting the accusation itself, while "dismiss the case" refers to ending the entire legal proceeding, which may involve other factors beyond just the charge.