- 1. Doing time
- 2. Put behind bars
- 3. Blow the whistle
- 4. Go straight
- 5. Do a runner
- 6. Sharp practice
- 7. To cook the books
- 8. To pull a fast one
- 9. Cat burglar
- 10. Stool pigeon
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the idiom ‘doing time’ mean?
- What is the meaning of ‘put behind bars’?
- What does it mean to ‘blow the whistle’?
- What does ‘go straight’ imply?
- What is a ‘cat burglar’?
If you love detective novels or crime dramas, you’re in for a treat! Check out our curated list of 10 intriguing English idioms related to crime. Many of these expressions might sound familiar, especially if you’ve enjoyed English-language movies or TV shows.
If you haven’t encountered these terms before, now is the perfect time to expand your vocabulary! By doing so, you’ll boost your understanding of English discussions about crime and criminals from 50% to an impressive 80%. Let’s dive in!
So, let’s get started!
1. Doing time
Meaning: to be a prisoner, to do a prison sentence
Example: Jack had done time on some occasions.
2. Put behind bars
Windows on a wall
Meaning: To imprison someone (the term “bars” refers to prison doors). Example: The bank robbers have finally been locked away behind bars.
3. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To alert the authorities about a crime. Example: The gang activity had escalated significantly, making it clear that it was time to take action and report them to the police.
4. Go straight
Meaning: to start following the law and abandon a life of crime. Example: After his arrest, Ben vowed to his mother that he would turn his life around and embrace a lawful path.
5. Do a runner
Meaning: To escape without settling the payment for a product or service. Example: The teenagers made a quick getaway when the taxi came to a halt, leaving the driver stuck with an unpaid fare.
6. Sharp practice
Meaning: fraud, thievery
Example: That firm is known for its sharp practice, so I’d rather not deal with them.
7. To cook the books
Meaning: Cooking the books refers to the act of falsifying a company’s financial records to present misleading information. Example: One of the directors was caught cooking the books, revealing that the company had been suffering financial losses for years.
8. To pull a fast one
Meaning: to cheat someone
Example: He was trying to pull a fast one when he told you he’d paid.
9. Cat burglar
Definition: A cat burglar is a stealthy thief who discreetly breaks into homes to commit theft. For instance, he specializes in stealing from high-rise apartments.
10. Stool pigeon
Meaning: An informant is someone—often a criminal or a government agent—who discreetly provides information about other criminals to law enforcement. For instance, I was shocked to discover that he had been a stool pigeon for all those years.
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What crime-related English idioms do you know and use? Share them with us in the comments.
See you again soon!
Bye-bye for now!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the idiom ‘doing time’ mean?
It means to be a prisoner or to serve a prison sentence.
What is the meaning of ‘put behind bars’?
It refers to imprisoning someone, with ‘bars’ indicating prison doors.
What does it mean to ‘blow the whistle’?
It means to alert the authorities about a crime.
What does ‘go straight’ imply?
It implies starting to follow the law and abandoning a life of crime.
What is a ‘cat burglar’?
A cat burglar is a stealthy thief who discreetly breaks into homes to commit theft.
