[] to make a claim against sb in a court about sth that they have said or done to harm you 控告；控诉◆The bank is being sued for $1 billion in damages by a group of angry investors. 这家银行被一群愤怒的投资者起诉，要求赔偿 10 亿元。◆They threatened to sue if the work was not completed. 他们威胁称，如果工程不能完工，就要提起诉讼。