Crime might sound like a serious word, but when people talk about it in everyday life, they often use funny or interesting sayings called idioms. These idioms help people explain ideas quickly or make a conversation more exciting. Even if no real crime is happening, people still like to use these expressions to talk about tricky situations or bad behavior in a lighter way.
In this article, we will learn about different idioms related to crime. You will see how these sayings are used and what they really mean. Understanding them can make reading stories, watching shows, or talking with others a lot more fun. Let’s discover how these crime idioms can help you sound more natural and understand conversations better.
Idioms about Crime
1. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while doing something wrong.
Within a Sentence: Joey was caught red-handed taking cookies before dinner./The student was caught red-handed writing answers on his hand./Mom caught me red-handed sneaking into the fridge late at night.
In Other Words: Caught in the act./Busted doing something bad./Found doing the wrong thing.
2. Break the law
Meaning: To do something illegal.
Within a Sentence: You break the law if you steal from a store./It’s wrong to break the law by speeding too fast./Tagging walls with spray paint is breaking the law.
In Other Words: Do something illegal./Disobey the rules./Go against the law.
3. On the run
Meaning: Trying to escape from the police.
Within a Sentence: The robber was on the run after stealing the money./The criminal stayed on the run for weeks./He was on the run, hiding in different cities.
In Other Words: Running away from the police./Trying to hide./Escaping capture.
4. Inside job
Meaning: A crime planned by someone who belongs to the group being attacked.
Within a Sentence: The robbery at the store was an inside job./Police said the crime at the school was an inside job./The missing money was because of an inside job.
In Other Words: Betrayed by someone inside./Crime done by a team member./Secret trick from within.
5. Under the table
Meaning: Secret and usually dishonest payment.
Within a Sentence: He got paid under the table for extra work./Some people sell things under the table without paying taxes./She earned money under the table at the fair.
In Other Words: Paid secretly./Paid without following rules./Got hidden money.
6. Cover your tracks
Meaning: Hide what you did wrong.
Within a Sentence: The thief tried to cover his tracks by wiping fingerprints./She deleted her messages to cover her tracks./He covered his tracks after sneaking out.
In Other Words: Hide the evidence./Erase proof./Make it hard to find out.
7. Face the music
Meaning: Accept punishment for something wrong.
Within a Sentence: After lying, I had to face the music./He broke the window and faced the music at school./She cheated on the test and had to face the music.
In Other Words: Accept the punishment./Deal with the trouble./Own up to mistakes.
8. Beat the rap
Meaning: Escape being punished.
Within a Sentence: The boy beat the rap by proving he was innocent./He beat the rap because the police had no proof./She beat the rap with a good lawyer’s help.
In Other Words: Get away without punishment./Dodge the blame./Avoid trouble.
9. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Pretend not to notice something wrong.
Within a Sentence: The teacher turned a blind eye to kids passing notes./Mom turned a blind eye when I stayed up late./The guard turned a blind eye to the missing candy.
In Other Words: Ignore the bad thing./Pretend not to see it./Let it slide.
10. Crime doesn’t pay
Meaning: Doing bad things usually ends badly.
Within a Sentence: He learned that crime doesn’t pay after getting caught./They saw that crime doesn’t pay when they went to jail./Stealing showed him that crime doesn’t pay.
In Other Words: Bad actions bring bad results./Wrongdoing leads to trouble./Being bad catches up with you.
11. Steal someone’s thunder
Meaning: Take credit for someone else’s idea or success.
Within a Sentence: Lisa stole my thunder by telling my idea first./He stole my thunder at the science fair./My friend stole my thunder during the class project.
In Other Words: Take someone’s spotlight./Get praise meant for someone else./Claim another’s success.
12. A slap on the wrist
Meaning: A very light punishment.
Within a Sentence: He only got a slap on the wrist for skipping class./The thief got a slap on the wrist with a small fine./She received a slap on the wrist for breaking the rule.
In Other Words: Light punishment./Minor consequence./Small warning.
13. Get away with murder
Meaning: Do something bad without getting punished.
Within a Sentence: My little brother gets away with murder at home./She got away with murder when she broke the vase./He often gets away with murder at school.
In Other Words: Escape blame./Avoid trouble for bad actions./Not get punished.
14. Blow the whistle
Meaning: Report someone doing something wrong.
Within a Sentence: He blew the whistle on kids cheating on the test./The worker blew the whistle about the unfair rules./She blew the whistle when she saw the theft.
In Other Words: Tell on someone./Report bad behavior./Expose wrongdoing.
15. In hot water
Meaning: In big trouble.
Within a Sentence: I was in hot water after lying to my parents./He found himself in hot water for skipping homework./She’s in hot water for breaking curfew.
In Other Words: In trouble./Facing a problem./In a tough spot.
16. Pull a fast one
Meaning: Trick someone.
Within a Sentence: He pulled a fast one by switching the test papers./They pulled a fast one to win the game./She pulled a fast one on her brother with a prank.
In Other Words: Play a trick./Fool someone./Trick another.
17. Partner in crime
Meaning: A close friend who helps you do something (good or bad).
Within a Sentence: My sister is my partner in crime at home./He and his cousin are partners in crime during summer break./She is my partner in crime when sneaking snacks.
In Other Words: Close teammate./Sidekick./Helper in fun plans.
18. Jailbird
Meaning: Someone who has spent a lot of time in jail.
Within a Sentence: The movie was about a jailbird trying to start over./The jailbird finally got a second chance./Many stories are about jailbirds changing their lives.
In Other Words: Former prisoner./Ex-convict./Person from jail.
19. Lay down the law
Meaning: To clearly tell people what the rules are.
Within a Sentence: Mom laid down the law about bedtime./The teacher laid down the law about cheating./Dad laid down the law for cleaning the house.
In Other Words: Set strict rules./Make the rules clear./Explain what’s allowed.
20. Do time
Meaning: Spend time in jail.
Within a Sentence: He did time for stealing from a store./The criminal had to do time after the robbery./She did time because she broke the law.
In Other Words: Serve a sentence./Stay in jail./Be locked up.
21. Behind bars
Meaning: In jail.
Within a Sentence: The thief ended up behind bars./He spent years behind bars./She went behind bars for her crimes.
In Other Words: Locked in jail./In prison./Serving time.
22. In the line of fire
Meaning: In danger of being blamed or hurt.
Within a Sentence: He was in the line of fire when the teacher got mad./She was in the line of fire after the vase broke./Being late put me in the line of fire at work.
In Other Words: At risk./In trouble’s way./Could get blamed.
23. Above the law
Meaning: Acting like the rules don’t apply to you.
Within a Sentence: He acted like he was above the law./No one is above the law, not even celebrities./She learned she wasn’t above the law.
In Other Words: Think rules don’t matter./Ignore the law./Act untouchable.
24. Take the fall
Meaning: Accept blame for something, often to protect someone else.
Within a Sentence: He took the fall for his friend./I took the fall even though it wasn’t my fault./She took the fall to help her team.
In Other Words: Accept the blame./Take the punishment./Cover for someone.
25. Crime wave
Meaning: A lot of crimes are happening at once in one area.
Within a Sentence: Our city had a crime wave last summer./The news talked about the recent crime wave./After the crime wave, police added more patrols.
In Other Words: Many crimes at once./Rise in crime./Crime outbreak.
26. Casing the joint
Meaning: Looking over a place before stealing from it.
Within a Sentence: The robber was casing the joint before the break-in./Police saw him casing the joint./Casing the joint is illegal.
In Other Words: Planning a robbery./Checking out a place to steal./Scouting before a crime.
27. In cold blood
Meaning: Doing something bad without emotion.
Within a Sentence: The crime was done in cold blood./He acted in cold blood without thinking./They hurt someone in cold blood.
In Other Words: Without feeling./Heartless action./Cruel behavior.
28. Cat burglar
Meaning: A thief who sneaks in quietly.
Within a Sentence: The cat burglar left no sign./Police caught the cat burglar last night./Cat burglars move fast and quiet.
In Other Words: Sneaky thief./Silent robber./Quiet criminal.
29. Hit and run
Meaning: A car accident where the driver leaves without helping.
Within a Sentence: He was hurt in a hit and run./Police are searching for the hit and run driver./Hit and runs are very serious crimes.
In Other Words: Crash and flee./Accident then escape./Run after a crash.
30. Get off scot-free
Meaning: Not get punished for doing something wrong.
Within a Sentence: She got off scot-free after cheating./He got off scot-free even though he lied./They got off scot-free without a fine.
In Other Words: Escape punishment./No penalty./Walk away clean.
31. Law of the jungle
Meaning: Strong people get their way, and weak ones lose.
Within a Sentence: On the playground, it sometimes felt like the law of the jungle./In the old days, the Wild West followed the law of the jungle./The bully acted like it was the law of the jungle.
In Other Words: Only the strongest win./Survival of the fittest./Power rules.
32. Clean getaway
Meaning: Escape without getting caught.
Within a Sentence: The robber made a clean getaway./They planned a clean getaway after the prank./He made a clean getaway before anyone saw him.
In Other Words: Escape without trouble./Sneak away safely./Leave without being caught.
33. On the case
Meaning: Working to solve a problem or crime.
Within a Sentence: The detective is on the case./The teacher is on the case about missing homework./Mom is on the case when something is missing.
In Other Words: Working to solve it./Investigating./Looking into it.
34. Hot on someone’s trail
Meaning: Very close to catching someone.
Within a Sentence: The police were hot on the robber’s trail./The dog was hot on the raccoon’s trail./The detective is hot on the thief’s trail.
In Other Words: Close behind./Almost caught./Following fast.
35. In the clear
Meaning: Free from blame or danger.
Within a Sentence: After the test, I was in the clear./He was in the clear once the police found the real thief./She was in the clear after explaining everything.
In Other Words: Safe now./No more trouble./Not blamed anymore.
36. On the lookout
Meaning: Watching carefully for danger or trouble.
Within a Sentence: The guard was on the lookout for any problems./I was on the lookout for my lost dog./Teachers are on the lookout for cheating during tests.
In Other Words: Watching carefully./Keeping an eye out./Looking for signs.
37. Stone-cold
Meaning: Showing no emotion, especially when doing something wrong.
Within a Sentence: He gave a stone-cold look after breaking the rules./The thief was stone-cold while stealing./She stayed stone-cold during the argument.
In Other Words: No feelings./No emotion./Hard and cold.
38. Under suspicion
Meaning: People think you did something wrong.
Within a Sentence: He was under suspicion after the candy disappeared./The student was under suspicion for cheating./She was under suspicion after the accident.
In Other Words: People are doubtful./Thought to be guilty./Seen as suspicious.
39. Beat the system
Meaning: Find a tricky way around rules or laws.
Within a Sentence: He beat the system by finding a shortcut./She beat the system by finding a loophole./They beat the system during the contest.
In Other Words: Trick the rules./Find a smart way out./Outsmart the system.
40. Finger-pointing
Meaning: Blaming others.
Within a Sentence: After the fight, everyone was finger-pointing./The teacher stopped all the finger-pointing in class./The siblings were finger-pointing over the mess.
In Other Words: Blaming each other./Passing the blame./Saying “It wasn’t me!”
41. On trial
Meaning: Being tested or judged.
Within a Sentence: His idea was on trial during the meeting./I felt like I was on trial after the accident./The student was on trial for breaking rules.
In Other Words: Being judged./Being tested./Under review.
42. Open-and-shut case
Meaning: A case or problem that is easy to solve.
Within a Sentence: The missing backpack was an open-and-shut case./Finding the thief was an open-and-shut case./The answer was an open-and-shut case.
In Other Words: Easy to solve./Obvious answer./Clear case.
43. Cook the books
Meaning: Change records or numbers to hide the truth.
Within a Sentence: The company cooked the books to hide mistakes./He cooked the books to show more money./Cooking the books is a serious crime.
In Other Words: Falsify records./Cheat with numbers./Change the facts.
44. Hold up
Meaning: A robbery, usually with weapons.
Within a Sentence: The bank was held up yesterday./The store had a hold-up during the night./They stopped a hold-up in progress.
In Other Words: Armed robbery./Forceful theft./Stick-up.
45. Booked
Meaning: Officially recorded by police for a crime.
Within a Sentence: He got booked for shoplifting./She was booked after the fight./They booked the man after the chase.
In Other Words: Arrested./Written down by police./Officially charged.
46. Busted
Meaning: Caught doing something wrong.
Within a Sentence: I got busted sneaking candy./He was busted for cheating on the test./They got busted breaking curfew.
In Other Words: Caught red-handed./Found doing wrong./Discovered.
47. Cold case
Meaning: A crime that was never solved.
Within a Sentence: The missing bike became a cold case./Police are still working on the cold case./The cold case was reopened with new clues.
In Other Words: Old unsolved crime./Unsolved mystery./Forgotten case.
48. Ring leader
Meaning: The main person behind a crime or trouble.
Within a Sentence: He was the ring leader of the prank./The ring leader planned everything./Police caught the ring leader after the robbery.
In Other Words: Main troublemaker./Boss of the group./Leader of bad acts.
49. Rough justice
Meaning: Quick or unfair punishment.
Within a Sentence: The bully got rough justice from other kids./Rough justice happened when the teacher gave punishment without checking./Sometimes rough justice feels unfair.
In Other Words: Unfair punishment./Quick and harsh ruling./Fast judgment.
50. Pay the price
Meaning: Suffer because of a bad choice.
Within a Sentence: I paid the price for not studying./He paid the price after lying to his mom./She paid the price by missing the game.
In Other Words: Face the consequences./Suffer for mistakes./Learn a hard lesson.
51. In the crosshairs
Meaning: Being targeted or blamed.
Within a Sentence: I was in the crosshairs after the prank./The player was in the crosshairs after losing the game./She was in the crosshairs at the meeting.
In Other Words: Targeted./In trouble./Under attack.
52. Hit the jackpot (illegally)
Meaning: Make a lot of money in the wrong way.
Within a Sentence: The scammers hit the jackpot./He hit the jackpot by tricking people./They hit the jackpot with stolen items.
In Other Words: Big illegal gain./Large illegal reward./Huge dishonest win.
53. Rough around the edges
Meaning: Not polite or lawful.
Within a Sentence: He’s rough around the edges but kind./The store owner was rough around the edges./She acts rough around the edges sometimes.
In Other Words: Not well-behaved./Unpolished./A little wild.
54. Play dirty
Meaning: Use unfair ways to win.
Within a Sentence: He played dirty during the race./They played dirty to win the prize./She played dirty to get ahead.
In Other Words: Cheat./Use unfair tricks./Win unfairly.
55. Thick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends who share secrets.
Within a Sentence: They are thick as thieves since kindergarten./My cousin and I are thick as thieves./The two teammates are thick as thieves.
In Other Words: Best buddies./Close friends./Secret sharers.
56. Tighten security
Meaning: Make a place safer against crime.
Within a Sentence: After the robbery, they tightened security./We tightened security after losing supplies./The school tightened security after the incident.
In Other Words: Make things safer./Add more protection./Guard better.
57. Bail out
Meaning: Pay money to free someone from jail.
Within a Sentence: His parents bailed him out./She bailed out her brother./They bailed him out after the mistake.
In Other Words: Pay for release./Free from jail./Pay bail.
58. Open secret
Meaning: Something wrong that everyone knows but doesn’t talk about.
Within a Sentence: It was an open secret that he cheated./The open secret about the missing snacks was funny./Her open secret about the prank spread fast.
In Other Words: Known but unspoken./Hidden in plain sight./Everybody knows it.
59. Con artist
Meaning: A person who tricks others to get money.
Within a Sentence: The con artist tricked many people./A con artist sold fake tickets./He was a con artist at the market.
In Other Words: Trickster./Swindler./Fake dealer.
60. Do a number on
Meaning: Harm or damage something badly.
Within a Sentence: The rain did a number on my bike./He did a number on his project by spilling juice./They did a number on the playground with their rough play.
In Other Words: Damage badly./Hurt something./Mess it up.
True/False Quiz: Idioms about Crime
1. If you are caught red-handed, it means you got caught doing something good.
(True / False)
2. A partner in crime is someone who helps you do homework quietly.
(True / False)
3. Blowing the whistle means telling the teacher when someone is doing something wrong.
(True / False)
4. If you break the law, you are following all the rules.
(True / False)
5. On the run means you are playing tag during recess.
(True / False)
6. If you face the music, you accept punishment for what you did wrong.
(True / False)
7. Under the table means buying something secretly without telling the teacher.
(True / False)
8. Cover your tracks means making sure everyone knows what you did.
(True / False)
9. Saying crime doesn’t pay means being bad usually brings trouble.
(True / False)
10. If someone is behind bars, it means they are at home doing homework.
(True / False)
11. Take the fall means blaming someone else for your mistake.
(True / False)
12. A clean getaway means escaping without getting caught.
(True / False)
13. Cold case means a crime that has been solved quickly.
(True / False)
14. Finger-pointing is when people blame each other.
(True / False)
15. If someone is in hot water, they are safe and having fun.
(True / False)
Answers
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Learning crime idioms helps you understand stories, movies, and even everyday conversations better. These sayings might sound funny at first, but they make speaking and writing more colorful. Knowing them can also help you catch the real meaning when people are not speaking directly.
Now that you know these idioms, you can spot them easily and even use them yourself. Keep practicing and noticing how people around you use these fun expressions. It will make your English stronger and more interesting without feeling too hard.
