(1) take (sb.)to court意为“起诉、控告(某人)”。

• He decided to take the company to court .
  他决定起诉这家公司。

 (2) go to law (against sb.)表示“打官司，诉诸法律”。

• I don't think there is need for you to go to law against them over/about this matter; it isn't worth it.
  我认为你没必要为这事跟他们打官司，根本不值得。

 (3) charge可作“指控，控告，指责”解，常用的句型为charge sb. with (doing) sth.，跟that从句。

• He charged me with neglecting my duty.
  他指责我玩忽职守。
• They charged that his reckless driving was what had caused the accident.
  他们控告他，认为他的鲁莽驾驶导致了这起交通事故。
• It was charged that he aided and abetted the enemy.
  他被指控暗中协助敌人。

 (4) accuse与charge同义，常与of连用。

• The police accused him of stealing jewels from the shop.
  警察指控他盗窃商店的珠宝。
• The general was accused of running away from the city when the enemy attacked.
  这位将军被指控在敌军进攻时弃城而逃。

 (5) lodge/make/bring an accusation (of a crime) against sb., lay/lodge/bring/file/make a complaint against sb., bring an action/a suit/ a charge/a lawsuit against sb. (in court), make/lodge a (legal) claim against sb., make a claim (against sb.) at a court of law，这些短语均可表示“指控，控告，控诉，起诉”，是较通俗的用法。

• They lodged/made/brought an accusation of murder against him.
  他们控告他犯有谋杀罪。
• Some parents have lodged a complaint with the headmaster against one of the teachers.
  有些家长向校长投诉一位教师。
• Tell your manager, I want to lodge a complaint about the quality of the product. 告诉你们经理，
  我们要投诉你产品的质量问题。
• He brought a lawsuit against them for refusing to pay back the money he lent them.
  他因他们拒绝还债而控告他们。
• If the land really belongs to you, why don't you lodge a legal claim against him? (Why don't you make/lodge a claim against him for compensation at a court of law?)
  如果这块地真的属于你，你为什么不起诉他要求赔偿？

 (6) prosecute可表示“起诉，对……提起公诉，告发”，较正式。

• He was prosecuted for taking bribes from builders.
  他被告发从建筑商那里收受贿赂。

 (7) start a prosecution against sb.意为“检举、控告某人”。

• They are going to start a prosecution against him for violation of the laws.
  他们准备检举他违反法律。

 (8) proceed against sb.意为“起诉，控告”，是较正式的法律用语。

• You should take into account the trouble and expense of proceeding against them before you make a legal claim.
  在你起诉之前，要考虑到起诉他们带来的麻烦和费用。

 (9) commence/institute/start/take/undertake (legal) proceedings against sb.也是“起诉，控告”的意思。

• If the difficulty cannot be arranged, it only remains to take legal proceedings .
  如果争议得不到解决，那就只有向法院起诉了。
• In the last resort, we will institute/start/undertake legal proceedings against them .
  在迫不得已的情况下(作为最后的办法)，我们将起诉他们。

(10) sue意为“控告”，特别是为获得一笔钱所进行者。

• He sued the tenant for not paying the rent.
  他控告房客不付租金。
• He is suing the other driver in the crash for $300 damages.
  他控告对方司机，要求赔偿这起事故的损失，金额为300美元。
• Is he going to sue (at a court/at the law) about this matter?
  他打算为这件事起诉吗？