On: L'Aquila quake: Italy scientists found guilty of m...

[engtech]

Does anyone understand the title of Nature article?

"Italy puts seismology in the dock" ?

is it meant to be "in the dark" ?

[michaelhoffman → engtech]

  Definition of DOCK
  : the place in a criminal court where a prisoner stands or sits during trial
  — in the dock
  : on trial

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dock

Commonly used in British/Commonwealth English, and Nature is based in London. I don't think I've ever heard it used in American English.

[SoftwareMaven → michaelhoffman]

"On the stand" would be the equivalent US idiom.

[michaelhoffman → SoftwareMaven]

Not really, because any witness goes on the stand, whether they are a party to the case or not. Saying someone is "on the stand" does not mean they are a criminal defendant.

Only criminal defendants are in the dock.

[dmckeon → SoftwareMaven]

US and UK court idioms vary widely - a US defendant would be "on trial" while a UK accused would be "in the dock"

Any witness would "on the stand" including a defendant who is called as a witness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_stand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtroom

[mikeash → engtech]

"In the dock" means "on trial". http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/in+the+dock.htm...

[drone → engtech]

It's an idiom, often used to express "putting on trial".

[kirian → engtech]

"in the dock" is an idiom meaning to be put on trial.

[mc32 → engtech]

The dock is where the person on trial sits. I.e put seismology on trial.

[arscan → engtech]

It means to put on trial.

[engtech → engtech]

Thank you for the clarification, guys. I hadn't realized Nature was British/UK.