retirar los cargos
/retiɾaɾ los kaɾɡos/from spelling rules
To drop charges in Spanish is retirar los cargos.
The phrase retirar los cargos is used when a complainant or a prosecutor decides not to pursue a criminal case.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb retirar (to withdraw/remove) and los cargos (the charges).
Which one should you use?
While retirar los cargos is a standard way to express the action, archivar los cargos is a formal alternative that specifically denotes filing or storing the charges away. Additionally, desistir de los cargos is a common legal alternative used in formal judicial contexts to mean desisting from or dropping the charges. Dejar sin efecto los cargos is used to mean rendering the charges ineffective.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb retirar is used in its infinitive form to express the action of dropping the charges.
How do you pronounce it?
/retiɾaɾ los kaɾɡos/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking legal systems, a victim cannot unilaterally retirar los cargos once a crime is classified as public. The state prosecutor often retains the sole power to continue the case.
- The word cargos is a versatile term that refers not only to criminal charges but also to official 'positions' or 'offices' held by people in authority.
- The verb retirar literally means to 'pull back' or 'throw back', derived from the combination of the prefix 're-' and the verb 'tirar', which means to throw.
Examples in context
- El fiscal decidió retirar los cargos contra el acusado.The prosecutor decided to drop the charges against the defendant.
- El juez decidió archivar los cargos debido a la falta de pruebas.The judge decided to drop the charges due to lack of evidence.
- La víctima decidió dejar sin efecto los cargos contra su agresor.The victim decided to drop the charges against their assaulter.
- La defensa convenció al juez de abandonar los cargos en contra del acusado.The defense convinced the judge to drop the charges against the accused.
- El abogado pidió retirar los cargos.The lawyer asked to drop the charges.
- Decidieron retirar los cargos contra él.They decided to drop the charges against him.
- La víctima quiere retirar los cargos.The victim wants to drop the charges.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing a news report about a court case.
- Elena¿Supiste que van a retirar los cargos?Did you hear they are going to drop the charges?
- DanielNo, ¿en serio lo decidió la fiscalía?No, really? Did the prosecution decide that?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, por falta de pruebas.Yes, Daniel, due to lack of evidence.
- DanielEs una buena noticia para él.That is good news for him.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries los, retirar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
