detention

Everyday

1. A punishment at school where a pupil must stay in after lessons or at break time. tree →
2. Being kept somewhere by police or other officials so you cannot leave. tree →

In the lessons

In school life, a detention is given for bad behaviour, being late or not doing homework; it is part of the rules and consequences. In stories, a character may get a detention and miss something fun. Phrases: «get a detention», «be in detention», «after-school detention», «lunchtime detention».

Examples

• Tom got a detention for being rude to the teacher. tree →
• I had to stay in detention at lunchtime. tree →
• If you forget your homework three times, you get a detention. tree →
• Detention lasted half an hour after school. tree →
• She spent detention writing a sorry letter. tree →
• The suspect was held in detention by the police. tree →

Note

Countable for the school punishment: «a detention», «two detentions». Related verb: detain (keep someone back). Do not confuse with «attention».