Does "charge" mean just "criticize" ? or "take legal action"?

Question

"Opposition MPs charged the minister with neglecting her duty."Q. Does "charge" mean just "criticize" ? or "take legal action"? or could be both depending on the context?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

thanks3Does "charge" mean just "criticize" ? or "take legal action"? or could be both depending on the context?

'criticize' doesn't quite work.

Let's say 'charge ... with' means 'accuse ... of', and it can be done unofficially or it can be done officially (by the police in coordination with a prosecutor, for example).

Opposition MPs charged the minister with neglecting her duty.
~ Opposition MPs accused the minister of neglecting her duty.
(unofficially, i.e., no one was going to take her to court)

Last week police charged Meg Newman with the murder of her husband.
~ Last week police accused Meg Newman of the murder of her husband.
(officially, i.e., the police were involved in making an arrest for a serious crime)

More often than not, the official form is cast in the passive voice:

Last week Meg Newman was charged with the murder of her husband.

CJ

Does "charge" mean just "criticize" ? or "take legal action"?

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