loophole
[noun]
Synonyms: let-out, escape, excuse

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

loop‧hole /ˈluːphəʊl $ -hoʊl/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: loop 'hole in a wall for shooting through' (14-19 centuries) + hole]
a small mistake in a law that makes it possible to avoid doing something that the law is supposed to make you do
legal/tax loophole
loophole in
a loophole in the law

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

loophole
noun
ADJ. legal, security, tax
VERB + LOOPHOLE find | exploit, use People who don't want to pay tax will exploit any loophole.
close, plug, tighten a law designed to close any loopholes in tax
LOOPHOLE + VERB allow sb/sth, enable sb/sth a loophole enabling workers to take unnecessary sick leave
PREP. ~ in a loophole in the regulations

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

loophole

close/plug a loophole (=change something so that there is no longer a loophole)
The president is eager to close tax loopholes for foreign companies.
find a loophole
Some lawyers spend their time simply finding loopholes in existing contracts.
use/exploit a loophole
Airlines may be exploiting legal loopholes in order to employ pilots trained outside the US.
a loophole allows/enables something
Security loopholes allowed the terrorists to plant the bombs unnoticed.
a legal loophole
The new law closed a number of legal loopholes.
a tax loophole
The government lost billions because of a tax loophole.
a gaping loophole (=a very large loophole)
There is a gaping loophole in the ban on arms sales to poor countries.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲