Meaning of loophole | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light.
   historical
2. Crack, loophole, opening.
3. A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“[…] and having a fair loophole, as it were, from a broken hole in the tree, he took a sure aim, without being seen, waiting till they were within about thirty yards of the tree, so that he could not miss.”

“There was a loophole in this wall, to let the light in, just at the height of a person's head, who was sitting near the chimney.”

“The sun had shifted round, and the myriad windows of the Ministry of Truth, with the light no longer shining on them, looked grim as the loopholes of a fortress.”

“Coupling the poor girl's intelligence with my previous knowledge, and the result of our good friend's inquiries on the spot, I left him no loophole of escape, and laid bare the whole villany which by these lights became plain as day.”

“You have a contract that says you will work until Island Towers is finalized, which I interpret as completion of construction, or I can stop you working elsewhere. And there's no loopholes, because you drafted it and you're the best.”

“They would rather ask more from the vast majority of Americans and put our recovery at risk than close even a single tax loophole that benefits the wealthy.”

CEFR level