Crime is a part of many stories, movies, and news reports in the United States. From police shows to courtroom dramas, people in the USA hear about crime every day. Because of this, English has many expressions, or idioms, to talk about crime. These idioms make conversations more colorful and easy to follow. They help people explain serious topics in short, clear ways.
In this article, you will learn some common idioms about crime that are often used in everyday American speech. These phrases are useful for talking about wrong actions, the justice system, and even jokes about being sneaky. Whether you’re watching a crime show or reading the news, these idioms will help you understand the meaning behind the words. Let’s explore them together.
Idioms About Crime
1. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught in the act of doing something wrong.
Example Sentence:
• The boy was caught red-handed taking cookies before dinner.
• She got caught red-handed copying her friend’s homework.
Other ways to say: Busted, caught in the act
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from old times when someone was literally found with blood on their hands after a crime.
Usage: Used when someone is clearly seen doing something wrong.
2. Break the law
Meaning: To do something illegal.
Example Sentence:
• You break the law if you steal from a store.
• He broke the law by driving without a license.
Other ways to say: Do something illegal, commit a crime
Fun Fact/Origin: “Law” refers to rules set by the government. Breaking them leads to punishment.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t follow legal rules.
3. Behind bars
Meaning: In jail or prison.
Example Sentence:
• The thief ended up behind bars for stealing.
• He spent ten years behind bars.
Other ways to say: In jail, locked up
Fun Fact/Origin: Bars refer to the metal bars used in jail cells.
Usage: Used when someone is sent to prison.
4. Do time
Meaning: To serve a sentence in jail.
Example Sentence:
• He did time for robbing a store.
• She’s doing time for cheating people out of money.
Other ways to say: Serve time, be in prison
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from the idea that someone pays for their crime with their time.
Usage: Used when talking about punishment in jail.
5. Under the table
Meaning: Secret or illegal payments.
Example Sentence:
• He got paid under the table so no one would know.
• She made under-the-table deals with no records.
Other ways to say: Off the books, secretly paid
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea of hiding something beneath the table.
Usage: Used when money is exchanged secretly or illegally.
6. On the run
Meaning: Escaping from the police or hiding.
Example Sentence:
• The robber was on the run for weeks.
• She went on the run after breaking out of jail.
Other ways to say: Fleeing, hiding
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of someone running away fast to avoid being caught.
Usage: Used when someone is trying to avoid arrest.
7. Beat the rap
Meaning: Escape punishment for a crime.
Example Sentence:
• He beat the rap with a good lawyer.
• She beat the rap and walked out free.
Other ways to say: Got away with it, escaped charges
Fun Fact/Origin: “Rap” means a charge or accusation.
Usage: Used when someone avoids being punished by the court.
8. Bend the rules
Meaning: To do something slightly wrong without getting in trouble.
Example Sentence:
• He bent the rules by staying past curfew.
• She always bends the rules to win games.
Other ways to say: Stretch the rules, cheat a little
Fun Fact/Origin: Rules don’t break but can be “bent” to make something unfair.
Usage: Used when someone breaks a rule in a small way.
9. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the punishment or consequences.
Example Sentence:
• He had to face the music after getting caught.
• She knew she had to face the music and tell the truth.
Other ways to say: Own up, take responsibility
Fun Fact/Origin: Some say it came from the military, when bad news was given to the sound of music.
Usage: Used when someone finally accepts they did wrong.
10. Get away with murder
Meaning: Do something very wrong without punishment.
Example Sentence:
• He always gets away with murder in class.
• She got away with murder by lying to her teacher.
Other ways to say: Escape punishment, go unpunished
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase is extreme but used to describe people who do wrong and aren’t stopped.
Usage: Used when someone does something bad and doesn’t get caught.
11. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Pretend not to see something wrong.
Example Sentence:
• The teacher turned a blind eye to the kids whispering.
• He turned a blind eye to his friend cheating.
Other ways to say: Ignore, look the other way
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase came from a British admiral who used his blind eye to ignore signals.
Usage: Used when someone chooses to ignore bad actions.
12. Act above the law
Meaning: Think you don’t have to follow rules like everyone else.
Example Sentence:
• The mayor acted above the law and didn’t pay fines.
• Some people act above the law just because they’re rich.
Other ways to say: Think rules don’t apply, ignore the law
Fun Fact/Origin: Everyone is expected to follow laws, no matter who they are.
Usage: Used when someone thinks they are too powerful to be punished.
13. Inside job
Meaning: A crime done by someone who works in the place it happened.
Example Sentence:
• The robbery was an inside job by an employee.
• Police say it was an inside job because nothing was broken.
Other ways to say: Crime by an insider, someone on the inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from crimes done by trusted workers.
Usage: Used when someone already part of a group commits a crime.
14. Crime doesn’t pay
Meaning: Crime will lead to trouble, not success.
Example Sentence:
• He learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay.
• They found out crime doesn’t pay after going to jail.
Other ways to say: Bad actions lead to bad results, don’t break the rules
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to teach people that illegal actions aren’t worth it.
Usage: Used when someone is punished for doing something wrong.
15. Lay down the law
Meaning: To be strict and make rules clear.
Example Sentence:
• Mom laid down the law about bedtime.
• The teacher laid down the law before the test started.
Other ways to say: Be firm, give strict rules
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people in power making laws that others must follow.
Usage: Used when someone is very serious about rules.
16. Caught in the act
Meaning: Seen doing something wrong.
Example Sentence:
• He was caught in the act of breaking the window.
• They were caught in the act taking cookies.
Other ways to say: Busted, seen doing wrong
Fun Fact/Origin: This means the person was caught at the exact time they were doing something wrong.
Usage: Used when someone is seen committing the act.
17. Go straight
Meaning: Stop doing crime and live honestly.
Example Sentence:
• After prison, he decided to go straight.
• She promised to go straight and get a real job.
Other ways to say: Live right, follow the rules
Fun Fact/Origin: “Straight” means honest and not crooked or bad.
Usage: Used when someone chooses to stop being a criminal.
18. Bail out
Meaning: Pay money to get out of jail or leave a bad situation.
Example Sentence:
• His parents bailed him out after the arrest.
• The friend bailed out when the plan got risky.
Other ways to say: Get out, escape trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: In court, bail is the money you pay to stay out of jail while you wait for trial.
Usage: Used when someone pays or leaves to avoid trouble.
19. Blow the whistle
Meaning: Tell the truth about someone doing wrong.
Example Sentence:
• She blew the whistle on the cheating students.
• He blew the whistle on his boss for stealing money.
Other ways to say: Report, speak up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports, where a whistle is blown when a rule is broken.
Usage: Used when someone tells others about wrong actions.
20. Caught with your hand in the cookie jar
Meaning: Caught doing something you shouldn’t do.
Example Sentence:
• He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar taking extra snacks.
• She looked guilty—like she had her hand in the cookie jar.
Other ways to say: Caught misbehaving, caught sneaking
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of a child taking cookies when they’re not supposed to.
Usage: Used when someone is caught doing something sneaky.
21. Get off scot-free
Meaning: Escape without any punishment.
Example Sentence:
• He got off scot-free even though he broke the rules.
• They got off scot-free because no one saw them.
Other ways to say: Avoid punishment, get away
Fun Fact/Origin: “Scot” was a word for tax or payment—so “scot-free” means no cost.
Usage: Used when someone does something wrong but doesn’t get in trouble.
22. The long arm of the law
Meaning: The police or law will eventually catch you.
Example Sentence:
• The long arm of the law finally caught up to the thief.
• You can’t hide forever from the long arm of the law.
Other ways to say: Justice will come, the law always finds out
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests the law can reach far, no matter where you are.
Usage: Used when someone thinks they can escape the law, but they can’t.
23. Cover your tracks
Meaning: Hide what you’ve done so you don’t get caught.
Example Sentence:
• He deleted the messages to cover his tracks.
• She tried to cover her tracks after breaking the lamp.
Other ways to say: Hide the truth, clean up evidence
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunters or criminals hiding their footprints.
Usage: Used when someone tries to hide proof of wrongdoing.
24. Take the fall
Meaning: Get blamed or punished for something.
Example Sentence:
• He took the fall so his friends wouldn’t get in trouble.
• She took the fall for the prank at school.
Other ways to say: Get blamed, be the scapegoat
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fall” means a loss or failure, like falling from grace.
Usage: Used when someone is punished, even if they weren’t the only one involved.
25. Stick to your guns
Meaning: Refuse to change your mind, even under pressure.
Example Sentence:
• She stuck to her guns and didn’t lie for her friend.
• He stuck to his guns during the police questions.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, don’t back down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers staying at their post with their weapons.
Usage: Used when someone won’t give in, even when it’s hard.
26. Caught in a sting
Meaning: Tricked by police during a secret operation.
Example Sentence:
• The thief was caught in a sting operation.
• They were caught in a sting trying to sell fake tickets.
Other ways to say: Trapped by a setup, tricked and caught
Fun Fact/Origin: A “sting” is a surprise police plan to catch criminals.
Usage: Used when someone is caught by a police trap.
27. Throw the book at someone
Meaning: Give the toughest punishment possible.
Example Sentence:
• The judge threw the book at him for lying.
• They threw the book at the criminal with a long sentence.
Other ways to say: Be very strict, punish hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to giving all the laws in the law book to one person.
Usage: Used when someone gets punished to the full extent.
28. In hot water
Meaning: In serious trouble.
Example Sentence:
• He was in hot water after skipping school.
• She’s in hot water for lying to the teacher.
Other ways to say: In trouble, facing problems
Fun Fact/Origin: Hot water can burn, just like being in a tough spot can “hurt.”
Usage: Used when someone is facing consequences.
29. Keep your nose clean
Meaning: Stay out of trouble.
Example Sentence:
• After his warning, he kept his nose clean.
• She told her brother to keep his nose clean at school.
Other ways to say: Behave, follow the rules
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom means not getting your name mixed up in anything dirty.
Usage: Used to encourage someone to stay out of trouble.
30. Skate on thin ice
Meaning: Be close to getting in trouble.
Example Sentence:
• He’s skating on thin ice by skipping homework.
• You’re skating on thin ice with those rude jokes.
Other ways to say: Taking a big risk, close to trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: Thin ice can break—just like bad choices can lead to big trouble.
Usage: Used when someone is making risky or bad choices.
31. Pull a fast one
Meaning: Trick someone or cheat
Example Sentence:
• He pulled a fast one and switched the test papers.
• Don’t try to pull a fast one on your teacher.
Other ways to say: Trick, cheat
Fun Fact/Origin: Fast actions are harder to see—this idiom means sneaky behavior.
Usage: Used when someone tries to fool others.
32. Cook the books
Meaning: Change financial numbers illegally.
Example Sentence:
• The company cooked the books to hide losses.
• He went to jail for cooking the books at work.
Other ways to say: Cheat on records, fake the numbers
Fun Fact/Origin: “Books” mean business records—“cooking” them means changing them.
Usage: Used in business or money-related crimes.
33. Hit and run
Meaning: A car accident where the driver doesn’t stop.
Example Sentence:
• The driver left after the hit and run.
• She saw a hit and run near the school.
Other ways to say: Crash and flee, leave the scene
Fun Fact/Origin: The law says you must stop after an accident, so leaving is illegal.
Usage: Used when someone causes an accident and runs away.
34. In the line of fire
Meaning: In danger, especially when someone else is being targeted.
Example Sentence:
• The officer stood in the line of fire.
• He felt like he was in the line of fire during the argument.
Other ways to say: In danger, in harm’s way
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from war, where soldiers could be hit by bullets.
Usage: Used when someone is in danger because of someone else’s actions.
35. Jailbait
Meaning: A young person who looks older and could get someone in legal trouble.
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t know she was jailbait until it was too late.
• Be careful—she may look older, but she’s jailbait.
Other ways to say: Too young legally
Fun Fact/Origin: This word is used to warn people about dating someone underage.
Usage: Used in situations about age and legal dating issues.
Quiz: Idioms About Crime
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “caught red-handed” mean?
a) Got hurt while working
b) Caught doing something wrong
c) Wearing red clothes
2. What does “do time” mean?
a) Spend time with friends
b) Spend time at school
c) Be in jail for a crime
3. What does “under the table” mean?
a) Something is dropped
b) Paid in a secret or illegal way
c) Something is clean
4. If someone “blew the whistle,” what did they do?
a) Made a loud noise
b) Told the truth about someone doing wrong
c) Played a sport
5. What does “take the fall” mean?
a) Slip and fall down
b) Accept blame for something
c) Miss the bus
6. What does “beat the rap” mean?
a) Escape punishment
b) Make music
c) Argue with a friend
7. What does “turn a blind eye” mean?
a) Get glasses
b) Pretend not to see something wrong
c) Close your eyes to sleep
8. What does “go straight” mean?
a) Walk in a straight line
b) Live an honest life after doing wrong
c) Be quiet in class
9. What does “skate on thin ice” mean?
a) Go ice skating
b) Eat something cold
c) Be close to getting in trouble
10. What does “cook the books” mean?
a) Make food using a cookbook
b) Keep financial records
c) Change numbers in secret and illegal ways
11. If someone is “in hot water,” what does that mean?
a) Taking a bath
b) In serious trouble
c) Cooking dinner
12. What does “pull a fast one” mean?
a) Run really fast
b) Play a trick on someone
c) Get to school early
Answer Key
- b) Caught doing something wrong
- c) Be in jail for a crime
- b) Paid in a secret or illegal way
- b) Told the truth about someone doing wrong
- b) Accept blame for something
- a) Escape punishment
- b) Pretend not to see something wrong
- b) Live an honest life after doing wrong
- c) Be close to getting in trouble
- c) Change numbers in secret and illegal ways
- b) In serious trouble
- b) Play a trick on someone
Wrapping Up
Idioms about crime are often used in the USA when talking about rules, punishment, or sneaky actions. These short phrases help explain big ideas in a simple way. They are common in TV shows, movies, and daily life. Knowing these idioms makes it easier to understand conversations and stories around crime.
Next time you hear someone say “caught red-handed” or “do time,” you’ll know what they really mean. Keep practicing, and you’ll get better at using these everyday phrases the American way.
