at Her Majesty's pleasure
at
æt
āt
<abbr style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Her / His" >Her</abbr>
hɪz
hiz
Majesty's
mæʤəstiz
mājēstiz
pleasure
plɛʒə
plezhē

Definition & Meaning of "at Her Majesty's pleasure"in English

at her majesty's pleasure
01

for an indefinite period set by the Crown, not a court 

Dialectbritish flagBritish
at (Her|His) Majesty's pleasure definition and meaning
Formal
Idiom

What is the origin of the idiom "at Her Majesty's pleasure" and when to use it?

The idiom "at Her Majesty's pleasure" has its origins in British law and is associated with the legal system of the United Kingdom. It has been used for centuries and is rooted in the authority of the British monarch. The concept of royal prerogative, including the power to determine the length of imprisonment, has historical roots in the discretionary powers of the British crown. It is used when referring to individuals, often juveniles or those deemed mentally unfit, who are sentenced without a fixed term and are subject to the discretion of the monarch or relevant authorities for determining the duration of their confinement.

Examples
The teenager was detained at His Majesty's pleasure after the verdict. 
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