Language is not just about grammar and vocabulary — it is about expressions that bring conversations to life. Idioms are special phrases whose meanings cannot be understood by simply looking at the individual words.
They often carry cultural references, humor, or metaphors that make English richer and more expressive.
When it comes to crime-related idioms, they are widely used in daily conversations, literature, journalism, and even movies.
These idioms don’t always refer to real crimes but are often used metaphorically to describe situations like dishonesty, cheating, bending rules, or being caught in tricky problems.
Learning them helps you sound more fluent, understand native speakers better, and add variety to your spoken and written English.
In this article, you’ll explore more than 32 idioms about crime, organized into easy groups with meanings, examples, and notes. Whether you’re a student, professional, or language enthusiast, these idioms will give your English a sharper edge.
Did You Know?
Many crime idioms entered English from courtrooms, prisons, and newspapers of the 18th and 19th centuries. For example, the phrase “caught red-handed” originally referred to someone literally caught with blood on their hands after committing a crime! Today, however, we often use it for something as simple as being caught sneaking cookies from the jar.
Idioms About Dishonesty and Cheating
Caught Red-Handed
Meaning: Caught while doing something wrong.
Example: The student was caught red-handed copying during the test.
Similar Idiom: Busted.
Note: Used in informal and formal situations, especially when someone is caught in the act.
Cook the Books
Meaning: To change financial records dishonestly.
Example: The company was fined for cooking the books.
Similar Idiom: Fiddle the accounts.
Note: Common in business and financial discussions.
Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg
Meaning: Very dishonest.
Example: That politician is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
Similar Idiom: Dirty dealer.
Note: Informal, often used in conversations about corruption.
Highway Robbery
Meaning: Something extremely overpriced.
Example: $10 for a bottle of water? That’s highway robbery!
Similar Idiom: Daylight robbery.
Note: Informal, often used humorously.
Take Someone for a Ride
Meaning: To cheat or deceive someone.
Example: The tourists were taken for a ride by the taxi driver.
Similar Idiom: Rip someone off.
Note: Daily life usage, informal.
Thick as Thieves
Meaning: Very close friends, sharing secrets.
Example: The two kids are thick as thieves — always whispering together.
Similar Idiom: Partners in crime.
Note: Informal, not necessarily negative.
Partner in Crime
Meaning: A close friend who joins you in fun or mischief.
Example: My sister is my partner in crime during shopping trips.
Similar Idiom: Sidekick.
Note: Used lightheartedly in daily conversation.
On the Take
Meaning: Accepting bribes.
Example: The official was arrested for being on the take.
Similar Idiom: Dirty money.
Note: Common in political or corruption contexts.
Idioms About Punishment and Law
Face the Music
Meaning: To accept the punishment or consequences of actions.
Example: He cheated on the exam, and now he must face the music.
Similar Idiom: Pay the price.
Note: Daily life usage, formal and informal.
Serve Time
Meaning: To spend time in prison.
Example: He served time for fraud.
Similar Idiom: Do time.
Note: Often used in crime reports.
Do Time
Meaning: To be in prison.
Example: He did time for robbery when he was young.
Similar Idiom: Serve a sentence.
Note: Informal, often heard in movies.
The Long Arm of the Law
Meaning: Law enforcement will eventually catch wrongdoers.
Example: The criminal couldn’t escape the long arm of the law.
Similar Idiom: Justice will catch up.
Note: Common in formal and journalistic writing.
Crime Doesn’t Pay
Meaning: Criminal behavior will eventually bring trouble.
Example: He thought he’d get rich stealing, but crime doesn’t pay.
Similar Idiom: Justice prevails.
Note: Moral lesson, often used in teaching.
Behind Bars
Meaning: In prison.
Example: The thief is now behind bars.
Similar Idiom: Locked up.
Note: Common and widely understood.
Get Away with Murder
Meaning: To do something bad without being punished.
Example: The spoiled child gets away with murder at home.
Similar Idiom: No consequences.
Note: Often used metaphorically in family and work contexts.
Booked for Something
Meaning: Officially charged with a crime.
Example: He was booked for shoplifting.
Similar Idiom: Arrested.
Note: Formal, police/journalistic contexts.
Idioms About Small Crimes and Mischief
Cat Burglar
Meaning: A thief who climbs buildings to steal.
Example: The police arrested a cat burglar last night.
Similar Idiom: Housebreaker.
Note: Mostly used literally in crime stories.
Con Artist
Meaning: A person who cheats others with clever lies.
Example: She lost her savings to a con artist.
Similar Idiom: Swindler.
Note: Daily usage, especially in news.
Hot-Wire a Car
Meaning: To start a car without a key (illegally).
Example: The teenager tried to hot-wire a car.
Similar Idiom: Steal a ride.
Note: Literal crime idiom, used in crime movies.
Hold Up
Meaning: To rob with violence or threats.
Example: The bank was held up by two masked men.
Similar Idiom: Stick up.
Note: Literal, but often heard in action movies.
Inside Job
Meaning: A crime committed with the help of someone within the organization.
Example: The robbery was an inside job.
Similar Idiom: Betrayal from within.
Note: Daily speech and journalism.
Stick to the Rules
Meaning: To follow laws or guidelines strictly.
Example: In exams, you must stick to the rules.
Similar Idiom: Play by the book.
Note: Often used in professional settings.
Play by the Book
Meaning: To follow laws and regulations exactly.
Example: The lawyer always plays by the book.
Similar Idiom: Stick to the rules.
Note: Used formally.
Jailbait
Meaning: Someone under legal age involved in a romantic relationship.
Example: Be careful — she’s jailbait.
Similar Idiom: Underage.
Note: Informal, slang; used cautiously.
Idioms About Justice and Truth
Clean Slate
Meaning: A fresh start, with past mistakes forgiven.
Example: After serving his sentence, he wanted a clean slate.
Similar Idiom: Wipe the slate clean.
Note: Used positively in daily life.
Blow the Whistle
Meaning: To report wrongdoing.
Example: The employee blew the whistle on the company’s illegal practices.
Similar Idiom: Expose the truth.
Note: Common in workplaces and news.
Guilty as Sin
Meaning: Clearly guilty.
Example: Everyone knew he was guilty as sin.
Similar Idiom: Without a doubt.
Note: Informal, often used in storytelling.
Lay Down the Law
Meaning: To enforce rules strictly.
Example: The teacher laid down the law about homework.
Similar Idiom: Put one’s foot down.
Note: Common in family and school settings.
Under the Table
Meaning: Secretly, often with money (bribes).
Example: They paid him under the table to avoid taxes.
Similar Idiom: Off the books.
Note: Daily life and workplace slang.
Jury’s Still Out
Meaning: A decision has not yet been made.
Example: The jury’s still out on whether the new law will work.
Similar Idiom: Not decided yet.
Note: Often used in news and discussions.
Above the Law
Meaning: Thinking one is not subject to rules or punishment.
Example: Some powerful people act as if they’re above the law.
Similar Idiom: Untouchable.
Note: Common in journalism and political discussions.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- In Speaking: Sprinkle idioms in casual talks. Instead of saying “He was caught cheating,” say “He was caught red-handed.” It sounds natural and expressive.
- In Writing: Idioms make essays, stories, and blogs lively. Use them in narratives, but avoid overloading formal reports.
- In Professional Settings: Business idioms like “cook the books” or “play by the book” are helpful in meetings, presentations, and reports.
Common Mistakes Learners Make with Idioms
- Wrong Context
❌ He was behind bars in his office.
✅ He was behind bars for stealing a car. - Literal Translation
❌ She cooked the books in the kitchen.
✅ The accountant cooked the books to hide money. - Overuse
❌ Every sentence filled with idioms sounds unnatural.
✅ Use idioms sparingly to make speech or writing more colorful.
FAQs
1. What are crime idioms used for?
They add color and meaning to conversations, often to describe dishonesty, law, or justice in a metaphorical way.
2. Are all crime idioms negative?
No. Some, like “partner in crime,” are playful and positive.
3. Can crime idioms be used in formal writing?
Yes, but carefully. Use them in creative writing, essays, or journalism. Avoid them in official documents.
4. Why do native speakers use crime idioms so often?
Because they’re catchy, easy to remember, and reflect real-world culture and stories.
5. How can I learn idioms faster?
Practice in context. Write your own sentences and use them in conversations.
Conclusion
Idioms about crime give English a sharp, dramatic, and often witty flavor. From “caught red-handed” to “the long arm of the law,” these phrases capture both serious and playful sides of language.
By learning and practicing them, you not only improve your fluency but also understand movies, books, and conversations more deeply.
So the next time you want to sound natural and expressive, don’t just talk plainly — add a touch of idiomatic style, and let your words do the magic.
