LessonsLiteral and Figurative Meanings: Principles and Legal ApplicationsQuiz

إذا حلف لا يضع قدمه في دار فلان يحنث لو دخلها حافيا أو منتعلا أو راكبا
If someone swears not to set foot in a person's house, entering barefoot, wearing footwear, or riding still breaks the oath.

In ordinary usage, setting foot somewhere can mean entering a place, not merely placing uncovered skin on the floor. Footwear or a ride does not defeat the apparent purpose of the expression when customary usage makes entry its intended sense.

The example illustrates the legal importance of conventional speech: the applied meaning can be broader than a strictly physical reconstruction of the words.

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Setting foot in a house and entering it

Literal and Figurative Meanings: Principles and Legal Applications

إذا حلف لا يضع قدمه في دار فلان يحنث لو دخلها حافيا أو منتعلا أو راكبا
If someone swears not to set foot in a person's house, entering barefoot, wearing footwear, or riding still breaks the oath.

In ordinary usage, setting foot somewhere can mean entering a place, not merely placing uncovered skin on the floor. Footwear or a ride does not defeat the apparent purpose of the expression when customary usage makes entry its intended sense.

The example illustrates the legal importance of conventional speech: the applied meaning can be broader than a strictly physical reconstruction of the words.