English idioms often use themes from daily life, and crime-related idioms are commonly used in conversations, news, movies, and workplaces.
In this post, you’ll learn 25 English idioms about crime that native speakers use to talk about honesty, punishment, secrets, rules, and behavior.
These idioms usually do not talk about real crimes. Instead, they are figurative expressions that help speakers explain situations more interestingly and naturally.
Learning crime idioms will help you understand spoken English better and sound more fluent when you speak.
25 English Idioms About Crime
1. Break the law
Meaning: To do something illegal or against the rules/laws.
Example: He broke the law by stealing from the store.
2. Armed to the teeth
Meaning: Carrying or possessing a lot of weapons or firearms.
Example: The robbers were armed to the teeth when they held up the bank.
3. Jump bail
Meaning: Failing to appear in court after being released on bail.
Example: The suspect jumped bail and is now a wanted fugitive.
4. Turn state’s evidence
Meaning: Providing testimony against others involved in a crime to get a reduced sentence.
Example: The getaway driver turned state’s evidence against the bank robbers.
5. Take a fall
Meaning: To take punishment or accept blame for something, often a crime.
Example: Jimmy took a fall for his cousin and did 3 years for the robbery.
6. Get a wiggle on
Meaning: To hurry up or get moving, often used by police telling someone to move faster.
Example: The cop told the suspect to get a wiggle on into the squad car.
7. Fly straight
Meaning: To stop doing illegal or shady activities and obey the law.
Example: After his latest arrest, Bobby promised to fly straight and get a real job.
8. The long arm of the law
Meaning: The extensive power and authority of law enforcement agencies.
Example: No matter how far he ran, the fugitive couldn’t escape the long arm of the law.
9. In the slammer
Meaning: In jail or prison.
Example: If he’s convicted, that burglar is going to be in the slammer for a long time.
10. Let off the hook
Meaning: To pardon or not punish someone for an offense or crime.
Example: Despite the evidence, the crooked politician was let off the hook again.
11. Bent copper
Meaning: A corrupt or dishonest police officer.
Example: The bent coppers were taking bribes to look the other way on certain crimes.
12. Pull a job
Meaning: To commit a crime, usually a robbery or burglary.
Example: Those crooks pulled one too many jobs and finally got caught.
13. The fifth
Meaning: Refusing to answer questions by invoking the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Example: The mobster took the fifth when asked about his illegal activities.
14. Fall guy
Meaning: A person who is made to take the blame for something, especially a crime.
Example: The corrupt CEO made a low-level employee the fall guy for the accounting fraud.
15. Heist
Meaning: A robbery or major theft, especially one that is carefully planned.
Example: The team of thieves executed a multi-million-dollar heist of the art museum.
16. Clean getaway
Meaning: Managing to escape or get away successfully after a crime without being caught.
Example: The bank robbers made a clean getaway and haven’t been seen since.
17. Shady
Meaning: Dishonest, corrupt, illegal or questionable activities.
Example: The new club owner has a shady past and suspected ties to organized crime.
18. Caper
Meaning: A criminal act or prank, usually minor or harmless.
Example: Those college kids got in trouble for pulling a late-night caper at the dean’s house.
19. Fence
Meaning: Someone who buys and sells stolen goods illegally.
Example: The investigators were trying to find the fence who helped move the stolen diamonds.
20. On the lam
Meaning: Being a wanted fugitive who is evading the police and hiding out.
Example: The escaped convict has been on the lam for over 6 months now.
21. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To report wrongdoing or illegal activities to authorities.
Example: The accountant blew the whistle on his company’s shady financial practices.
22. Bunco
Meaning: A swindle, fraud or deception illegally obtaining money.
Example: The con artists ran a complex bunco scheme targeting elderly victims.
23. Lay low
Meaning: To escape notice or hide out, often used by criminals.
Example: After the big robbery, the thieves planned to lay low for a while in Mexico.
24. Pigeon drop
Meaning: A specific con game or scam tricking the victim into handing over cash.
Example: Those grifters are running the classic pigeon drop swindle in the park.
25. Button man
Meaning: A professional killer or hit man for organized crime gangs.
Example: The mob sent their best button man to take care of the problem permanently.
Conclusion
Crime-related idioms add color and strength to everyday English.
By learning these 25 English idioms about crime, you can understand conversations, stories, and media more easily and express your ideas more confidently.
Try to notice these idioms when watching movies, reading news, or talking with others.
Use them carefully and in the right context.
With regular practice, these expressions will become a natural part of your English vocabulary.
Read more English idioms here:
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