Crime isn’t always about detectives and drama—it’s also a popular theme in the way we speak! Idioms about crime are expressions we use in everyday conversation that borrow words from the world of law-breaking, justice, and punishment.
These idioms are not literal, but they paint vivid pictures that help us understand deeper meanings, emotions, or situations. From “caught red-handed” to “get away with murder,” each of these phrases has a story behind it that makes communication more colorful and dramatic.
Let’s dive into the world of idioms about crime and explore what they mean, how to use them, and how they can spice up your conversations.
What Is an Idiom About Crime?
Idioms about crime are expressions that use crime-related language to talk about real-life experiences. These idioms might not always refer to actual crimes—instead, they use criminal imagery to describe behavior, mistakes, deception, guilt, punishment, or even cleverness in a figurative way.
These idioms are often humorous, clever, or dramatic, and once you know them, you’ll start to notice how often they appear in books, shows, and daily speech.
Let’s break them down one by one and learn how they can be used in real-life situations.
Idioms About Crime
1. Caught Red-Handed
Meaning: To be caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
In a Sentence: The shoplifter was caught red-handed with the stolen necklace still in her bag.
2. Get Away with Murder
Meaning: To escape punishment for something serious or wrong.
In a Sentence: He never does his chores, yet his parents let him get away with murder.
3. Behind Bars
Meaning: To be in prison or jail.
In a Sentence: After years of scamming people, the con artist finally ended up behind bars.
4. Lay Down the Law
Meaning: To establish rules very firmly or strictly.
In a Sentence: After too many rule breaks, the teacher had to lay down the law in the classroom.
5. Cat Burglar
Meaning: A thief who is skilled at entering buildings without being noticed.
In a Sentence: The police suspected a cat burglar had stolen the paintings from the museum without tripping the alarms.
6. Break the Law
Meaning: To commit a crime or do something illegal.
In a Sentence: Speeding in a school zone is a serious way to break the law.
7. Do Time
Meaning: To serve a prison sentence.
In a Sentence: He did time for his involvement in the bank robbery and came out determined to change his life.
8. On the Run
Meaning: Trying to avoid being caught by the police.
In a Sentence: The suspect was still on the run days after escaping custody.
9. A Partner in Crime
Meaning: Someone who helps you with a plan, especially something mischievous.
In a Sentence: My best friend has always been my partner in crime when it comes to sneaky midnight snacks.
10. Inside Job
Meaning: A crime committed by someone within the organization or group that is affected.
In a Sentence: The police believed the heist was an inside job because the alarm system had been turned off.
11. Beat the Rap
Meaning: To escape conviction or punishment for a crime.
In a Sentence: Thanks to a clever lawyer, the defendant managed to beat the rap despite all the evidence.
12. Go Straight
Meaning: To stop committing crimes and live an honest life.
In a Sentence: After years in the gang, he decided to go straight and open a bakery.
13. Busted
Meaning: To be caught doing something illegal or wrong.
In a Sentence: They got busted for sneaking into the concert without tickets.
14. Take the Fall
Meaning: To accept blame or punishment for something, often to protect someone else.
In a Sentence: He took the fall for the mistake to protect his younger brother.
15. Clean Getaway
Meaning: To escape a situation or place without being caught.
In a Sentence: The thief made a clean getaway before the police arrived.
16. Break and Enter
Meaning: To enter a building illegally, especially to commit a crime.
In a Sentence: The man was charged with break and enter after he was found inside the store at night.
17. Crime Doesn’t Pay
Meaning: Engaging in criminal activities will eventually lead to failure or punishment.
In a Sentence: He learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay after losing everything he had.
18. Throw the Book at Someone
Meaning: To punish someone as severely as possible.
In a Sentence: The judge threw the book at him for repeatedly violating his parole.
19. On Parole
Meaning: Released from prison but still under supervision and certain conditions.
In a Sentence: After five years behind bars, he was released on parole and had to report to his officer weekly.
20. Hit and Run
Meaning: A car accident where the driver leaves the scene without helping or reporting.
In a Sentence: The victim was injured in a hit and run and the police were searching for witnesses.
21. Turn State’s Evidence
Meaning: To testify against former partners in crime in exchange for a lighter sentence.
In a Sentence: The mob member turned state’s evidence to avoid a long prison term.
22. Face the Music
Meaning: To accept the consequences or punishment for one’s actions.
In a Sentence: After skipping school, he had to face the music when his parents found out.
23. Armed to the Teeth
Meaning: Heavily armed or well-prepared with weapons.
In a Sentence: The gang was armed to the teeth before attempting the robbery.
24. Go Underground
Meaning: To hide or live in secret, often to avoid the law.
In a Sentence: After the investigation started, he went underground to avoid arrest.
25. Under the Table
Meaning: Secretly or illegally, especially when talking about payments.
In a Sentence: The manager was fired for accepting under-the-table payments from contractors.
26. Cover One’s Tracks
Meaning: To hide or disguise one’s actions to avoid detection.
In a Sentence: He deleted all his messages to cover his tracks before the audit.
27. Fall Off the Radar
Meaning: To go unnoticed or become hidden from public view, often deliberately.
In a Sentence: The hacker fell off the radar after the government started tracking him.
28. Hot on Someone’s Trail
Meaning: Very close to catching or finding someone.
In a Sentence: The detectives were hot on the criminal’s trail after finding a key clue.
29. Skeleton in the Closet
Meaning: A hidden secret from the past that could cause embarrassment or trouble.
In a Sentence: Every politician seems to have a skeleton in the closet they hope no one finds out.
30. Smoking Gun
Meaning: Clear and undeniable evidence of wrongdoing.
In a Sentence: The email served as a smoking gun in proving the fraud case.
31. Lock, Stock, and Barrel
Meaning: Everything completely, including all parts.
In a Sentence: They bought the stolen goods lock, stock, and barrel without knowing their origin.
32. Open-and-Shut Case
Meaning: A legal case that is very clear and easy to solve.
In a Sentence: With the suspect’s confession, it became an open-and-shut case.
33. Jump Bail
Meaning: To fail to appear in court after being released on bail.
In a Sentence: He jumped bail and disappeared before his trial date.
34. A Wanted Man
Meaning: Someone actively being sought by the authorities.
In a Sentence: After the escape, he became a wanted man in multiple states.
35. Crime Wave
Meaning: A sudden increase in criminal activity in a particular area.
In a Sentence: The city experienced a crime wave after the holidays began.
36. Bend the Law
Meaning: To act dishonestly or take advantage of legal technicalities without outright breaking the law.
In a Sentence: The company didn’t break the law, but they definitely bent it to get those contracts.
37. Throw Under the Bus
Meaning: To betray or sacrifice someone for personal gain.
In a Sentence: When questioned, he threw his partner under the bus to save himself.
38. Fence
Meaning: A person who buys and sells stolen goods.
In a Sentence: The police arrested a well-known fence who had been selling stolen electronics.
39. Get Off Scot-Free
Meaning: To avoid punishment completely, even when guilty.
In a Sentence: Due to lack of evidence, the main suspect got off scot-free.
40. Blow the Whistle
Meaning: To report someone’s wrongdoing or illegal actions.
In a Sentence: An employee blew the whistle on the company’s environmental violations.
41. The Long Arm of the Law
Meaning: The power and reach of the legal system to catch criminals.
In a Sentence: No matter how far he ran, the long arm of the law eventually caught up to him.
42. Crime of Passion
Meaning: A crime committed in a moment of intense emotion rather than premeditation.
In a Sentence: The court ruled it a crime of passion, which led to a reduced sentence.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Caught Red-Handed
What does “Caught red-handed” mean?
a) To have red ink on your hand
b) To be caught doing something wrong
c) To be caught daydreaming
d) To injure your hand in an accident
Quiz 2: Get Away with Murder
What is implied by “Get away with murder”?
a) To solve a murder mystery
b) To play detective
c) To avoid punishment for serious actions
d) To report a crime
Quiz 3: Face the Music
What does “Face the music” suggest?
a) To go to a concert
b) To accept punishment or consequences
c) To enjoy your favorite playlist
d) To relax after work
Quiz 4: Skeleton in the Closet
What is a “skeleton in the closet”?
a) A Halloween decoration
b) A spooky story
c) A hidden secret from the past
d) An old habit
Quiz 5: Blow the Whistle
If you “blow the whistle” on someone, what are you doing?
a) Starting a race
b) Making noise
c) Reporting wrongdoing
d) Cheering for your team
Quiz 6: Clean Getaway
What is a “clean getaway”?
a) Leaving after cleaning
b) Escaping without being caught
c) Taking a shower and leaving
d) Getting permission to go
Quiz 7: Partner in Crime
What does it mean to have a “partner in crime”?
a) A co-worker at a police station
b) A friend you do fun or mischievous things with
c) A cellmate in jail
d) A roommate
Quiz 8: Inside Job
What does “inside job” refer to?
a) An indoor chore
b) A job interview
c) A crime done by someone within an organization
d) A secret hobby
Quiz 9: Beat the Rap
What does it mean to “beat the rap”?
a) Dance to the beat
b) Escape punishment
c) Argue in court
d) Sing a rap song
Quiz 10: Crime Doesn’t Pay
What lesson does “Crime doesn’t pay” teach?
a) Criminals earn a lot
b) Crime is profitable
c) Crime leads to trouble
d) Crime gives rewards
Answers:
- b
- c
- b
- c
- c
- b
- b
- c
- b
- c
Conclusion
Idioms about crime add color, humor, and dramatic flair to everyday language, even when we’re not talking about actual criminals. They help us describe situations of secrecy, blame, consequences, or clever escapes with vivid, memorable phrases.
Whether you’re writing a story, watching a crime drama, or joking with a friend, these idioms help you communicate in a way that’s both fun and impactful. Keep them in your conversational toolkit—you never know when one might help you describe a situation perfectly.