I REST MY CASE

THE PHRASE means as far as you are concerned, you’ve done more than enough to prove your point, and need say no more.

The origin and usage of the phrase goes back in a court of law where the lawyers say that they have finished explaining their case and are ready for the judge or jury to decide it.

For example: All the evidence points toward the defendant’s guilt. I rest my case.

It’s often used in an ironic manner, to highlight when someone inadvertently says something that supports the claim you are making.

The drive will be too long, the seats too few, and the people too many. I rest my case.

The legal origin is that each side to a dispute is given a certain opportunity to present their version of the facts, whether by calling witnesses, or by reference to documents etc — when the evidence has been concluded that is when each side then makes legal argument to the judge/jury in turn. When the turn is finished the advocate is said to “rest” their case. The opening party rests their case first, which is why the opponent can submit that there is “no case to answer” at that point. After both sides have rested, then the judge rules and then the parties can again take up their cases to argue about the responsibility for legal costs of the action.

It is probably because the parties once again may need to argue after the delivery of the judgment that the cases are said to “rest” as in pause, rather than some more conclusive word. ‘I have made out my argument, I rest my case.’ In that context, case also means a briefcase which lawyers used to carry their briefs to court — briefs being the summary of the instructions and evidence of one side.