When we talk about crime, it’s not just about the act itself but also about how we describe it. Using idioms can make your language more expressive, empathetic, and impactful, helping you convey situations with care and nuance. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or just trying to understand human behavior, these 25 idioms for crime will give your communication a thoughtful touch.
1. Break the Law
Meaning: To commit an illegal act.
In a sentence: He decided to break the law by selling stolen goods.
Best use: When emphasizing someone’s intentional illegal actions.
Other ways to say: Commit a crime, violate the law, offend the law.
2. Caught Red-Handed
Meaning: To be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
In a sentence: She was caught red-handed stealing from the store.
Best use: Perfect for storytelling or emphasizing someone’s immediate wrongdoing.
Other ways to say: Caught in the act, nabbed, apprehended.
3. On the Run
Meaning: Escaping from the law.
In a sentence: The thief has been on the run since the robbery.
Best use: Use this to describe someone who is fleeing justice.
Other ways to say: Fleeing, absconding, in hiding.
4. Under the Table
Meaning: Done secretly or illegally.
In a sentence: He paid the contractor under the table to avoid taxes.
Best use: When discussing hidden or secretive illegal activities.
Other ways to say: Covertly, off the record, secretly.
5. Go Straight
Meaning: To stop engaging in illegal activities.
In a sentence: After years of trouble, he decided to go straight.
Best use: Emphasizing someone’s turning point toward lawful behavior.
Other ways to say: Reform, mend ways, live honestly.
6. Pay the Piper
Meaning: To face the consequences of wrongdoing.
In a sentence: Those who cheat will eventually pay the piper.
Best use: Ideal for discussing justice and accountability.
Other ways to say: Face consequences, bear the cost, reap what you sow.
7. Crime Doesn’t Pay
Meaning: Illegal actions have negative consequences.
In a sentence: He learned that crime doesn’t pay when he got caught.
Best use: Moral lessons or advice about lawful living.
Other ways to say: Wrongdoing leads to trouble, illegal acts fail.
8. By Hook or Crook
Meaning: Using any means, legal or illegal, to achieve a goal.
In a sentence: They planned to get the money by hook or crook.
Best use: Discussing someone’s desperation or cunning.
Other ways to say: By any means, at any cost, using tricks.
9. Skeleton in the Closet
Meaning: A hidden secret, often shameful or illegal.
In a sentence: He has a skeleton in the closet from his past crimes.
Best use: Sharing hidden past deeds in conversation or writing.
Other ways to say: Hidden secret, past indiscretion, dark secret.
10. Cook the Books
Meaning: To falsify financial records.
In a sentence: The accountant was fired for cooking the books.
Best use: Talking about financial fraud or embezzlement.
Other ways to say: Falsify records, manipulate accounts, commit fraud.
11. Face the Music
Meaning: Accept the consequences of your actions.
In a sentence: After the scam, he had to face the music.
Best use: Showing responsibility for one’s actions.
Other ways to say: Take responsibility, answer for actions, pay the price.
12. Locked Up
Meaning: Imprisoned.
In a sentence: He was locked up for six years for theft.
Best use: Describing someone detained or serving a sentence.
Other ways to say: Incarcerated, jailed, behind bars.
13. Hit the Jackpot (Criminal Context)
Meaning: To profit unexpectedly, often illegally.
In a sentence: They hit the jackpot with the bank heist.
Best use: Discussing unexpected gains through crime.
Other ways to say: Strike gold, make a windfall, cash in.
14. Take the Rap
Meaning: Accept blame for a crime.
In a sentence: He took the rap for his friend’s crime.
Best use: When emphasizing sacrificial responsibility.
Other ways to say: Shoulder the blame, bear the punishment, be held accountable.
15. Get Away with Murder
Meaning: Escape punishment despite wrongdoing.
In a sentence: She seemed to get away with murder after cheating the system.
Best use: Figurative for avoiding consequences.
Other ways to say: Escape justice, go unpunished, evade punishment.
16. Hot Pursuit
Meaning: Chasing someone closely after a crime.
In a sentence: The police were in hot pursuit of the robber.
Best use: Describing action-packed chases or urgency.
Other ways to say: Close chase, give chase, in pursuit.
17. Skeleton Crew (Criminal Context)
Meaning: Minimum team, sometimes for illicit operations.
In a sentence: The gang ran the heist with a skeleton crew.
Best use: Discussing minimal involvement in crimes.
Other ways to say: Minimal team, bare minimum staff, essential crew.
18. Crime Wave
Meaning: A sudden increase in criminal activity.
In a sentence: The city faced a crime wave last summer.
Best use: Reporting on trends or patterns in crime.
Other ways to say: Surge in crime, rise in offenses, criminal outbreak.
19. Black Market
Meaning: Illegal trading of goods.
In a sentence: Rare items were sold on the black market.
Best use: Describing illegal trade or underground economies.
Other ways to say: Underground market, illicit trade, illegal trade.
20. On the Take
Meaning: Accepting bribes or engaging in corruption.
In a sentence: The official was on the take, accepting money secretly.
Best use: Highlighting corruption or unethical behavior.
Other ways to say: Corrupt, bribed, accepting kickbacks.
21. Hit and Run
Meaning: Leaving the scene of an accident, often a crime.
In a sentence: The driver committed a hit and run last night.
Best use: Talking about negligence or unlawful escapes.
Other ways to say: Fleeing accident, leaving the scene, evading responsibility.
22. Jack the System
Meaning: To manipulate or exploit legal loopholes.
In a sentence: He tried to jack the system with fake documents.
Best use: Discussing clever or illegal exploitation of laws.
Other ways to say: Cheat the system, exploit loopholes, bend the rules.
23. Law-Abiding
Meaning: Following the rules and laws.
In a sentence: He remained law-abiding despite peer pressure.
Best use: For emphasizing good character or integrity.
Other ways to say: Respectful of the law, ethical, compliant.
24. Under Suspicion
Meaning: Being suspected of a crime.
In a sentence: She was under suspicion for the missing funds.
Best use: Describing preliminary investigations or doubt.
Other ways to say: Suspected, accused, eyed.
25. Crime Doesn’t Sleep
Meaning: Crime is always happening somewhere.
In a sentence: Remember, crime doesn’t sleep, so stay vigilant.
Best use: Awareness, safety tips, or cautionary advice.
Other ways to say: Criminal activity is constant, illegal acts never pause.
FAQs
Q1: Can these idioms be used in formal writing?
Yes, many idioms like “face the music” or “crime wave” are suitable for essays or articles if used appropriately.
Q2: Are these idioms common in everyday English?
Most are widely understood, especially in storytelling, journalism, and casual conversations.
Q3: Can idioms replace legal terms in writing?
They can add color, but for legal accuracy, always pair with precise terms like “arrested” or “charged”.
Q4: How do I choose the right idiom?
Focus on context—use ones like “caught red-handed” for storytelling and “law-abiding” for positive examples.
Q5: Are these idioms culturally sensitive?
Yes, these idioms are widely recognized in English-speaking cultures, but always consider your audience when referencing crime.
Conclusion
Learning these 25 idioms for crime helps you express yourself with empathy, precision, and warmth. Whether you’re describing someone’s missteps, moral lessons, or legal situations, these phrases provide colorful, meaningful ways to communicate. Language is not just about information—it’s about connection, understanding, and thoughtful expression, and idioms allow us to share that depth.
