依法律制裁犯罪行为。绳，即准绳，木工用的墨线，校正曲直的工具，引申为制裁。在现代社会，“绳之以法”多用于描述依法律办事，惩治犯罪行为，以维护社会安定，实现司法公正。

The term means holding criminals accountable according to law. In the Chinese expression,“绳” means the carpenter’s chalk line, which is used as a straightening tool, and figuratively, punishment. In modern society, the phrase “bring to justice” mostly means punishing criminal acts in accordance with law, so as to maintain social stability and judicial fairness.

引例 Citation

◎ 以文帝之明，而魏尚之忠，绳之以法则为罪，施之以德则为功。（《后汉书·冯衍传》）

（凭着文帝的圣明和魏尚的忠心，文帝依法制裁他（魏尚），他就有罪；文帝对他（魏尚）施加恩德，他就有功。）

By virtue of Emperor Wen’s sagacity and Wei Shang’s loyalty, Wei would be guilty if Emperor Wen chose to punish him according to law. He would be meritorious by the grace of Emperor Wen. (History of the Later Han Dynasty)