When you’re trying to talk about a hidden offense or an act of injustice, simple words can often feel like incomplete evidence. They fail to capture the subtle complexities and dark undertones of a situation.
This article is your new key to unlocking a more precise language. We’ve compiled a unique collection of Idioms About Crime, phrases that will help you articulate ideas of guilt, justice, and accountability with vivid and striking detail. It’s time to make your words as convincing as the strongest testimony.
Top 50 Idioms About Crime
1. To Get Caught Red-Handed
Meaning: To be caught in the act of committing a crime, undeniable evidence present.
In a Sentence:
She was caught red-handed stealing from the shop.
He got caught red-handed, committing the crime on camera.
Other Ways to Say: Busted in the act, Caught in the deed, Nailed
2. Behind Bars
Meaning: Imprisoned or locked up for a crime.
In a Sentence:
The thief is now behind bars for his crimes.
After the crime, he spent years behind bars.
Other Ways to Say: In jail, Locked up, Incarcerated
3. Get Away with Murder
Meaning: To escape punishment for a serious crime or wrongdoing.
In a Sentence:
She got away with murder, dodging the crime’s consequences.
He thinks he can get away with murder every time.
Other Ways to Say: Escape justice, Go unpunished, Slip through
4. Cook the Books
Meaning: To falsify financial records, often for criminal gain.
In a Sentence:
The accountant cooked the books to hide the crime.
They were caught cooking the books, a serious crime.
Other Ways to Say: Fudge the numbers, Manipulate accounts, Financial fraud
5. Crime Doesn’t Pay
Meaning: Committing crimes ultimately leads to negative consequences.
In a Sentence:
He learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay.
Crime doesn’t pay, as she found out after arrest.
Other Ways to Say: Wrongdoing backfires, Crime has consequences, No reward for crime
6. Blow the Whistle
Meaning: To expose a crime or wrongdoing by reporting it.
In a Sentence:
She blew the whistle on the company’s illegal crimes.
He blew the whistle, revealing the crime to authorities.
Other Ways to Say: Report wrongdoing, Spill the beans, Expose crime
7. Cat Burglar
Meaning: A stealthy thief who sneaks in quietly to commit a crime.
In a Sentence:
The cat burglar struck again, committing the crime unnoticed.
He moved like a cat burglar, silent in his crime.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky thief, Stealthy robber, Quiet intruder
8. Doing Time
Meaning: Serving a prison sentence for a crime.
In a Sentence:
He’s doing time for his role in the crime.
She’s been doing time since the crime was uncovered.
Other Ways to Say: Serving time, In prison, Behind bars
9. Go Straight
Meaning: To stop committing crimes and live an honest life.
In a Sentence:
After jail, he decided to go straight and avoid crime.
She went straight, leaving her criminal past behind.
Other Ways to Say: Reform, Turn honest, Leave crime
10. Beat the Rap
Meaning: To avoid punishment or conviction for a crime.
In a Sentence:
He managed to beat the rap for that crime.
She beat the rap, escaping the crime’s consequences.
Other Ways to Say: Get off, Avoid conviction, Escape justice
11. By the Book
Meaning: Following the law or rules strictly, avoiding crime.
In a Sentence:
He does everything by the book to steer clear of crime.
She’s by the book, never involved in crime.
Other Ways to Say: Follow rules, Law-abiding, Strictly legal
12. Covering Your Tracks
Meaning: Hiding evidence of a crime to avoid detection.
In a Sentence:
He was good at covering his tracks after the crime.
She covered her tracks to conceal the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Hide evidence, Erase traces, Conceal wrongdoing
13. Do a Runner
Meaning: To flee or escape after committing a crime.
In a Sentence:
He did a runner after the crime was discovered.
She did a runner to avoid facing the crime’s consequences.
Other Ways to Say: Flee, Bolt, Make a getaway
14. Face the Music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of a crime or wrongdoing.
In a Sentence:
He had to face the music for his crimes.
She faced the music after her crime was exposed.
Other Ways to Say: Take responsibility, Own up, Accept punishment
15. On the Run
Meaning: Fleeing from authorities to avoid capture for a crime.
In a Sentence:
The criminal is on the run after the crime.
She’s been on the run since committing the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Fugitive, Evading capture, In hiding
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Unique Standing Out From The Crowd
16. Come Clean
Meaning: To confess or admit to a crime or wrongdoing.
In a Sentence:
He came clean about his part in the crime.
She finally came clean, admitting the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Confess, Own up, Spill the truth
17. Costa del Crime
Meaning: A place where criminals hide or live to avoid prosecution.
In a Sentence:
He fled to the Costa del Crime to escape justice.
The Costa del Crime is a haven for those dodging crime charges.
Other Ways to Say: Criminal hideout, Safe haven, Fugitive retreat
18. Daylight Robbery
Meaning: An outrageously unfair or blatant crime, often overcharging.
In a Sentence:
The price was daylight robbery, a total crime!
Charging that much is daylight robbery, pure crime.
Other Ways to Say: Rip-off, Outrageous scam, Blatant theft
19. Break the Law
Meaning: To commit an act that violates legal rules, engaging in crime.
In a Sentence:
He broke the law, committing a serious crime.
She didn’t mean to break the law, but it was a crime.
Other Ways to Say: Violate rules, Commit an offense, Act illegally
20. Partner in Crime
Meaning: A close ally or accomplice in committing a crime.
In a Sentence:
She’s my partner in crime for this little scheme.
He and his partner in crime planned the heist.
Other Ways to Say: Accomplice, Sidekick, Co-conspirator
21. Law Unto Themselves
Meaning: Acting as if above the law, committing crimes without regard.
In a Sentence:
They’re a law unto themselves, ignoring crime laws.
He acts like a law unto himself, committing crimes freely.
Other Ways to Say: Above the law, Unrestrained, Rogue
22. Under the Table
Meaning: Done secretly or illegally, often involving a crime like bribery.
In a Sentence:
The deal was done under the table, a clear crime.
He paid under the table, committing a sneaky crime.
Other Ways to Say: Secretly, Illegally, On the sly
23. Inside Job
Meaning: A crime committed by someone within an organization.
In a Sentence:
The theft was an inside job, a betrayal of trust.
It was clearly an inside job, a crime from within.
Other Ways to Say: Internal crime, Betrayal, Insider scheme
24. Take a Bite Out of Crime
Meaning: To actively work to reduce or prevent crime.
In a Sentence:
The campaign aims to take a bite out of crime.
She’s helping take a bite out of crime in the city.
Other Ways to Say: Fight crime, Reduce wrongdoing, Combat crime
25. Caught in the Act
Meaning: Discovered while committing a crime, undeniable guilt.
In a Sentence:
He was caught in the act of the crime.
She got caught in the act, mid-crime.
Other Ways to Say: Busted, Caught red-handed, Nailed
26. Pull a Fast One
Meaning: To deceive or trick someone, often in a criminal way.
In a Sentence:
He pulled a fast one, committing a sneaky crime.
She tried to pull a fast one with that scam.
Other Ways to Say: Trick, Deceive, Con
27. Clean Getaway
Meaning: Escaping a crime scene without being caught.
In a Sentence:
The thief made a clean getaway after the crime.
She pulled off a clean getaway, avoiding the crime’s consequences.
Other Ways to Say: Escape cleanly, Slip away, Evade capture
28. Crime of Passion
Meaning: A crime committed in the heat of strong emotion.
In a Sentence:
It was a crime of passion, driven by anger.
Her crime of passion shocked everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional crime, Heat-of-the-moment act, Impulsive offense
29. Throw the Book at Someone
Meaning: To punish someone severely for a crime.
In a Sentence:
The judge threw the book at him for the crime.
They threw the book at her, punishing the crime harshly.
Other Ways to Say: Harsh punishment, Maximum penalty, Crack down
30. Get Off Scot-Free
Meaning: To escape punishment for a crime completely.
In a Sentence:
He got off scot-free, despite the crime.
She walked away scot-free after the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Escape justice, Go unpunished, Avoid consequences
31. Skeleton in the Closet
Meaning: A hidden crime or shameful secret.
In a Sentence:
He has a skeleton in the closet, a past crime.
Her skeleton in the closet was a forgotten crime.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden secret, Buried wrongdoing, Dark past
32. Smoking Gun
Meaning: Clear, undeniable evidence of a crime.
In a Sentence:
The video was a smoking gun, proving the crime.
They found a smoking gun linking her to the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Clear evidence, Proof, Damning clue
33. Dirty Money
Meaning: Money gained through illegal or criminal means.
In a Sentence:
He was caught laundering dirty money from the crime.
Her wealth came from dirty money, tied to crime.
Other Ways to Say: Illicit funds, Tainted cash, Criminal proceeds
34. Crime Spree
Meaning: A series of crimes committed in a short period.
In a Sentence:
The gang went on a crime spree across the city.
Her crime spree ended with a dramatic arrest.
Other Ways to Say: Crime wave, Rampage, String of offenses
35. Tip of the Iceberg
Meaning: A small part of a larger, hidden crime or problem.
In a Sentence:
This theft is just the tip of the iceberg for their crimes.
The scam was the tip of the iceberg in his crime network.
Other Ways to Say: Surface issue, Small clue, Bigger problem
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36. Play Cat and Mouse
Meaning: A teasing pursuit, often between criminals and authorities.
In a Sentence:
The thief played cat and mouse with the police after the crime.
They played cat and mouse, evading crime’s consequences.
Other Ways to Say: Tease and chase, Evasive game, Dodge pursuit
37. Crime Pays
Meaning: The false belief that committing crimes leads to rewards.
In a Sentence:
He thought crime pays, but he was wrong.
She believed crime pays until she was caught.
Other Ways to Say: Wrongdoing rewards, Illegal gains, False profit
38. Leave No Stone Unturned
Meaning: To thoroughly investigate a crime, checking every detail.
In a Sentence:
The detective left no stone unturned solving the crime.
She left no stone unturned to uncover the crime.
Other Ways to Say: Thorough search, Investigate fully, Dig deep
39. Caught with Your Hand in the Cookie Jar
Meaning: Caught committing a minor crime or wrongdoing.
In a Sentence:
He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, stealing petty cash.
She got caught with her hand in the cookie jar, a small crime.
Other Ways to Say: Busted, Caught in the act, Nabbed
40. In Hot Water
Meaning: In trouble, often due to a crime or wrongdoing.
In a Sentence:
He’s in hot water for his role in the crime.
She landed in hot water after the crime was exposed.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, Facing consequences, In a mess
41. Fly Under the Radar
Meaning: To commit a crime without being noticed.
In a Sentence:
He flew under the radar, committing the crime quietly.
The crime went unnoticed as she flew under the radar.
Other Ways to Say: Stay undetected, Slip by, Go unnoticed
42. Crime of Opportunity
Meaning: A crime committed due to a convenient situation.
In a Sentence:
It was a crime of opportunity, not planned.
He committed a crime of opportunity, seizing the moment.
Other Ways to Say: Spur-of-the-moment crime, Opportunistic act, Impulsive offense
43. Keep Your Nose Clean
Meaning: To stay out of trouble and avoid crime.
In a Sentence:
He’s trying to keep his nose clean after past crimes.
She kept her nose clean, avoiding any crime.
Other Ways to Say: Stay out of trouble, Be law-abiding, Avoid wrongdoing
44. Cook Up a Scheme
Meaning: To devise a dishonest or criminal plan.
In a Sentence:
They cooked up a scheme, planning the crime.
He cooked up a scheme to commit the perfect crime.
Other Ways to Say: Plan a scam, Devise a plot, Hatch a crime
45. Take the Fall
Meaning: To accept blame or punishment for a crime, often for someone else.
In a Sentence:
He took the fall for the crime to protect his friend.
She took the fall, facing the crime’s consequences alone.
Other Ways to Say: Take the blame, Be the scapegoat, Accept punishment
46. Slip Through the Cracks
Meaning: To avoid detection or punishment for a crime.
In a Sentence:
The criminal slipped through the cracks, avoiding the crime’s justice.
She slipped through the cracks, evading crime charges.
Other Ways to Say: Escape notice, Go undetected, Avoid capture
47. Crime Ring
Meaning: An organized group committing crimes together.
In a Sentence:
The police busted a crime ring operating in the city.
She was part of a crime ring, planning heists.
Other Ways to Say: Criminal network, Syndicate, Gang
48. Lay Low
Meaning: To hide or avoid attention after committing a crime.
In a Sentence:
He’s laying low after the crime to avoid arrest.
She laid low, hoping the crime would be forgotten.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hidden, Keep quiet, Avoid detection
49. Caught with Your Pants Down
Meaning: Caught unprepared or in the act of a crime, embarrassed.
In a Sentence:
He was caught with his pants down during the crime.
The crime left her caught with her pants down.
Other Ways to Say: Caught off guard, Busted, Exposed
50. Pull the Wool Over Someone’s Eyes
Meaning: To deceive someone, often to hide a crime.
In a Sentence:
He pulled the wool over their eyes, hiding the crime.
She tried to pull the wool over our eyes with her crime.
Other Ways to Say: Deceive, Trick, Fool
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About Crime
- The CEO was accused of serious financial misconduct, including trying to _________________________ for his own personal gain.
- The suspect has been _________________________ for two months now, with no sign of his whereabouts.
- The moment the police walked in, he was _________________________ with a bag of stolen jewels.
- The lawyer was so skilled that he helped his client _________________________ even with all the evidence against him.
- After serving his sentence, he promised his family he would _________________________ and never go back to his old ways.
- The witness decided to _________________________ on the corruption within the government agency.
- The judge was so angry at the repeat offender that he decided to _________________________ and sentence him to the maximum time.
- I knew I was _________________________ when my parents found out I had been skipping school.
- He confessed to the police, finally deciding to _________________________ about his role in the robbery.
- The detective knew there was more to the case; the car theft was just _________________________ of a much larger criminal operation.
Answer Key
- cook the books
- on the run
- caught red-handed
- beat the rap
- go straight
- blow the whistle
- throw the book at him
- in hot water
- come clean
- the tip of the iceberg
Conclusion
With this collection of Idioms About Crime, you’re now equipped with the linguistic tools to describe guilt and suspicion with sharp precision. These phrases don’t just help you tell a more engaging story; they also allow you to view complex situations from a more subtle perspective. Use them to make your stories and analysis as profound and convincing as a detective’s case.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
