People often use special phrases when talking about crime. These phrases are called idioms. They do not mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have a different meaning that people understand when they hear them. Idioms help make language more fun and easier to remember. Some crime idioms sound serious, but many are used in everyday talking.
In this article, we will look at idioms that are related to crime. You might hear these in books, movies, or even during conversations. Learning these phrases can help you understand more of what people say and also make your own talking more interesting. Let’s explore some crime idioms and find out what they really mean.
Idioms about Crime
1. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while doing something wrong
Give an Instance: Jake was caught red-handed taking cookies before dinner. / She was caught red-handed trying to sneak a phone into class.
Substitute Meaning: Busted in the act / Found doing something bad
2. Break the law
Meaning: To do something illegal
Give an Instance: If you steal, you break the law. / Speeding in a car breaks the law.
Substitute Meaning: Do something against the rules / Disobey the law
3. Behind bars
Meaning: In jail
Give an Instance: The thief is now behind bars. / He went behind bars for stealing cars.
Substitute Meaning: Locked up / In prison
4. A clean getaway
Meaning: Escaping without getting caught
Give an Instance: The raccoon made a clean getaway with the trash. / The prankster made a clean getaway after writing on the chalkboard.
Substitute Meaning: Got away safely / Escaped without trouble
5. Do time
Meaning: Spend time in jail
Give an Instance: He did time for robbing a bank. / Some people do time when they break serious laws.
Substitute Meaning: Serve jail time / Be in prison
6. On the run
Meaning: Hiding or escaping from the police
Give an Instance: The robber was on the run for days. / The cat was on the run after knocking over the vase.
Substitute Meaning: Trying to escape / Running away
7. Turn oneself in
Meaning: To go to the police and admit you did something wrong
Give an Instance: He turned himself in after the accident. / She turned herself in for cheating on the test.
Substitute Meaning: Admit to the police / Confess to doing something wrong
8. Crime doesn’t pay
Meaning: Doing bad things will not help in the long run
Give an Instance: He learned crime doesn’t pay when he got caught. / They saw crime doesn’t pay after getting in trouble.
Substitute Meaning: Doing wrong causes problems / You won’t win by cheating
9. Cover one’s tracks
Meaning: To hide what you’ve done
Give an Instance: She covered her tracks by deleting the messages. / He tried to cover his tracks after breaking the lamp.
Substitute Meaning: Hide the truth / Erase the clues
10. A slap on the wrist
Meaning: A small punishment
Give an Instance: He only got a slap on the wrist for lying. / They gave her a slap on the wrist for skipping class.
Substitute Meaning: Light punishment / Not punished much
11. Get away with murder
Meaning: Do something very bad without being punished
Give an Instance: He talks back to the teacher and still gets away with murder. / She never cleans her room but never gets in trouble.
Substitute Meaning: Avoid punishment / Do wrong and not get caught
12. Take the fall
Meaning: Accept blame for something
Give an Instance: Mike took the fall for the broken window. / She took the fall so her friend wouldn’t get in trouble.
Substitute Meaning: Blamed for something / Say you did it
13. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Give an Instance: I was in hot water after staying out too late. / He’s in hot water for forgetting his homework again.
Substitute Meaning: In big trouble / In a bad spot
14. Act of crime
Meaning: A criminal action
Give an Instance: Stealing a bike is an act of crime. / Graffiti on walls is also an act of crime.
Substitute Meaning: Breaking the law / Doing something illegal
15. Bail someone out
Meaning: Help someone out of trouble
Give an Instance: Mom bailed me out when I forgot my lunch. / He bailed his friend out by helping with the project.
Substitute Meaning: Rescue from trouble / Help when in need
16. Lay down the law
Meaning: Make rules very clear
Give an Instance: The teacher laid down the law about no talking. / Dad laid down the law about cleaning up after dinner.
Substitute Meaning: Set the rules / Be strict
17. Crime wave
Meaning: Many crimes happening in a short time
Give an Instance: The city had a crime wave last summer. / A crime wave hit when many bikes were stolen.
Substitute Meaning: Lots of crimes / Crime happening often
18. Get off the hook
Meaning: Avoid trouble or punishment
Give an Instance: He got off the hook after his sister took the blame. / I got off the hook because I had a note from Mom.
Substitute Meaning: Saved from trouble / Free from blame
19. Busted
Meaning: Caught doing something wrong
Give an Instance: He got busted for chewing gum in class. / They were busted trying to sneak candy into the movie.
Substitute Meaning: Caught red-handed / Found doing something bad
20. Beat the rap
Meaning: Escape punishment
Give an Instance: He beat the rap because there wasn’t proof. / She beat the rap with a really good excuse.
Substitute Meaning: Avoid being punished / Get away without blame
21. On the case
Meaning: Working to solve a problem or mystery
Give an Instance: The teacher was on the case to find out who made the mess. / Mom was on the case when the cookies disappeared.
Substitute Meaning: Investigating / Looking into it
22. Crime of passion
Meaning: A crime done in strong emotion, not planned
Give an Instance: He acted in a crime of passion after the argument. / It was a crime of passion, not something he planned.
Substitute Meaning: Sudden bad action / Done in anger
23. Case closed
Meaning: Problem solved
Give an Instance: We found the missing backpack case closed! / She admitted it was her case closed.
Substitute Meaning: Solved / No more questions
24. In custody
Meaning: Being held by the police
Give an Instance: The thief is now in custody. / They took him into custody after the chase.
Substitute Meaning: Arrested / Under police control
25. Tip-off
Meaning: A secret warning or clue
Give an Instance: The police got a tip-off about the hiding spot. / A tip-off helped find the missing bike.
Substitute Meaning: Helpful clue / Inside information
26. Inside job
Meaning: A crime done by someone within a group or place
Give an Instance: It had to be an inside job the door was never broken. / Only someone who worked there could do it it’s an inside job.
Substitute Meaning: Done by someone trusted / Crime from within
27. Take into custody
Meaning: Arrest someone
Give an Instance: Police took the driver into custody. / He was taken into custody after the fight.
Substitute Meaning: Hold someone for the law / Arrest
28. In the line of duty
Meaning: While doing your job (usually for police or firefighters)
Give an Instance: He got hurt in the line of duty. / The officer helped many people in the line of duty.
Substitute Meaning: While working / On the job
29. The usual suspects
Meaning: The people often blamed
Give an Instance: The usual suspects were blamed for the prank. / It was the usual suspects near the broken window.
Substitute Meaning: Known troublemakers / Same group blamed
30. Face the music
Meaning: Accept punishment
Give an Instance: I broke the vase and had to face the music. / He didn’t study and had to face the music after the test.
Substitute Meaning: Take the blame / Accept what’s coming
31. Do something by the book
Meaning: Follow the rules
Give an Instance: She did the science project by the book. / The officer does things by the book.
Substitute Meaning: Follow all the steps / Obey the rules
32. Beat the system
Meaning: Find a way around the rules
Give an Instance: He beat the system by finding a loophole. / She beat the system and still turned in her homework late.
Substitute Meaning: Outsmart the rules / Trick the setup
33. Do a double take
Meaning: Look again because something was surprising
Give an Instance: I did a double take when I saw my dog wearing sunglasses. / She did a double take after seeing the score.
Substitute Meaning: Look again / Be shocked
34. Crack the case
Meaning: Solve the problem or mystery
Give an Instance: The teacher cracked the case of the missing markers. / We cracked the case when we found the video.
Substitute Meaning: Solve it / Figure it out
35. In broad daylight
Meaning: Happening when it’s clear for all to see
Give an Instance: The phone was stolen in broad daylight. / He lied in broad daylight, with everyone watching.
Substitute Meaning: Out in the open / Not hidden
36. Law-abiding citizen
Meaning: Someone who follows the rules
Give an Instance: She is a law-abiding citizen who never speeds. / Most people here are law-abiding citizens.
Substitute Meaning: Follows the law / Does the right thing
37. Do a background check
Meaning: Check someone’s history
Give an Instance: They did a background check before hiring him. / A background check showed he had a clean record.
Substitute Meaning: Look into someone’s past / Check records
38. On parole
Meaning: Out of jail but still being watched
Give an Instance: He’s out of prison but on parole. / On parole, you have to follow many rules.
Substitute Meaning: Released with limits / Under watch
39. A shady deal
Meaning: Something dishonest or suspicious
Give an Instance: That trade felt like a shady deal. / She made a shady deal to win the contest.
Substitute Meaning: Suspicious choice / Sneaky plan
40. Pay the price
Meaning: Face the result of a bad choice
Give an Instance: He didn’t study and paid the price on test day. / She was mean and paid the price when no one helped her.
Substitute Meaning: Get the result / Suffer the outcome
41. Criminal record
Meaning: A list of crimes someone has done
Give an Instance: He couldn’t get the job because of his criminal record. / A criminal record follows you for life.
Substitute Meaning: List of past crimes / Law-breaking history
42. Get caught in the act
Meaning: Be seen doing something bad
Give an Instance: He got caught in the act of stealing gum. / They got caught in the act of cheating.
Substitute Meaning: Caught doing it / Seen during the crime
43. Lock someone up
Meaning: Put someone in jail
Give an Instance: They locked him up for robbery. / The man was locked up after the trial.
Substitute Meaning: Put in prison / Jail someone
44. In the clear
Meaning: Free from blame or danger
Give an Instance: After telling the truth, he was in the clear. / Once the test was over, I was in the clear.
Substitute Meaning: Safe now / Not in trouble anymore
45. Book someone
Meaning: Officially charge someone with a crime
Give an Instance: The police booked him for shoplifting. / He was booked after getting caught.
Substitute Meaning: Charge someone / Write it down officially
Find the “Idioms about Crime”
Reading Passage
Last Friday, right before the school dance, things got a little wild at Jefferson Elementary. Someone had let the frogs out from the science lab, and they were hopping all over the hallway. Mr. Grant was on the case right away, trying to figure out who did it. He said this wasn’t the first prank that week and blamed the usual suspects.
Later, the janitor found a note near the lockers. It was a tip-off that helped the teachers crack the case. Turns out, three students had planned it just to be funny. One of them took the fall so the others wouldn’t get in trouble.
They didn’t get away clean though. All three had to stay after school. Mr. Grant said they were caught red-handed. Still, they were lucky it was just a slap on the wrist. He told them, “Crime doesn’t pay, even if it’s just frogs.”
On Monday, the students were back in class and trying to stay in the clear. But everyone knew they’d been busted.
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Find and underline or list all the idioms used in the passage.
Answer Key
- On the case
- The usual suspects
- Tip-off
- Crack the case
- Took the fall
- Caught red-hande
- Slap on the wrist
- Crime doesn’t pay
- Stay in the clear
- Busted
Conclusion
Crime idioms are phrases people use to talk about trouble, rules, and mistakes in a more colorful way. You might hear them in stories, shows, or even at school. They don’t always mean what they sound like, but once you know them, they’re easy to understand.
By learning idioms like caught red-handed or on the run, you can follow conversations better and use fun expressions when you speak or write. These phrases help make language more interesting without being hard to learn.
