People use idioms to make their language more fun or clear. An idiom is a phrase that means something different from what the words actually say. For example, if someone says “spill the beans,” they don’t mean to drop food they mean to tell a secret. Many idioms are about everyday things like school, family, or even crime.
Idioms about crime can sound strange at first, but they help people describe actions or behavior in interesting ways. You might hear someone say “caught red-handed” or “break the law.” These phrases don’t always mean what they seem, but they are often used when talking about rules, trouble, or bad choices. In this article, you will learn what these idioms mean and see how they are used in real-life stories.
Idioms about Crime
1. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while doing something wrong.
Samples: Emma was caught red-handed trying to take candy from the teacher’s desk. / The student was caught red-handed writing answers on his hand during the test.
To Put it Another Way: He was caught in the act. / She was seen doing the wrong thing right away.
2. Break the law
Meaning: Do something illegal
Samples: If you steal from a store, you break the law. / Jay knew he would break the law if he hacked the school’s computer.
To Put it Another Way: Do something the rules say not to. / Go against what’s legal.
3. Get away with murder
Meaning: Not get punished for something wrong
Samples: Mia always gets away with murder because the teacher likes her. / Kyle never does his chores, but his parents don’t care. He gets away with murder.
To Put it Another Way: Do bad things and not get in trouble. / Avoid being blamed.
4. On the run
Meaning: Hiding or escaping from trouble or police
Samples: The robber was on the run after the bank was robbed. / The villain in the movie was on the run for weeks.
To Put it Another Way: Trying not to get caught. / Running from trouble.
5. Behind bars
Meaning: In jail
Samples: The man who stole the car is now behind bars. / If you do something serious, you might end up behind bars.
To Put it Another Way: Locked up in prison. / Not free anymore.
6. Crime doesn’t pay
Meaning: Doing bad things doesn’t lead to good results
Samples: Max cheated on the test and got a zero. Crime doesn’t pay. / Lisa got caught lying and missed the field trip. Crime doesn’t pay.
To Put it Another Way: Doing wrong things doesn’t help. / Bad choices lead to trouble.
7. Lay down the law
Meaning: Make rules and make sure people follow them
Samples: Mom laid down the law about screen time. / Our coach laid down the law no phones at practice.
To Put it Another Way: Say the rules clearly. / Be strict about what’s allowed.
8. Do time
Meaning: Spend time in jail
Samples: The thief did time for stealing bikes. / He had to do time after breaking into the school.
To Put it Another Way: Stay in prison as punishment. / Serve a jail sentence.
9. Act of theft
Meaning: A crime where someone takes something that isn’t theirs
Samples: Taking someone’s bike is an act of theft. / He was caught during the act of theft in the school gym.
To Put it Another Way: Stealing from someone. / Taking something without asking.
10. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the punishment
Samples: After cheating, Tyler had to face the music. / Mia didn’t study and failed the test. She had to face the music.
To Put it Another Way: Deal with the result of your choice. / Take the blame.
11. Throw the book at someone
Meaning: Give the worst punishment
Samples: The judge threw the book at the man who robbed the store. / If you break a lot of rules, the school might throw the book at you.
To Put it Another Way: Give the strongest penalty. / Be very strict.
12. Cat burglar
Meaning: A thief who sneaks in quietly
Samples: The cat burglar broke into the house without waking anyone. / In the movie, the cat burglar climbed the roof to steal jewels.
To Put it Another Way: A sneaky robber. / A quiet thief.
13. Take the fall
Meaning: Get blamed for something
Samples: Sam took the fall even though he didn’t break the window. / I won’t take the fall for someone else’s mistake.
To Put it Another Way: Be the one who gets in trouble. / Get blamed.
14. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Samples: I was in hot water after I missed my homework. / She’s in hot water for talking back to the teacher.
To Put it Another Way: In big trouble. / Facing problems.
15. A steal
Meaning: Something bought for a low price (not really a crime)
Samples: That game was only $5 it was a steal! / We got this phone for half the price. It’s a steal.
To Put it Another Way: Very cheap deal. / A great bargain.
16. Beat the rap
Meaning: Escape punishment
Samples: He beat the rap because there wasn’t enough proof. / The suspect beat the rap and didn’t go to jail.
To Put it Another Way: Avoid being punished. / Get away with it.
17. Inside job
Meaning: A crime done by someone who works there
Samples: The police said it was an inside job because nothing was broken. / The missing money points to an inside job.
To Put it Another Way: Someone on the inside did it. / A worker caused the trouble.
18. Out of line
Meaning: Acting badly or in a way that breaks rules
Samples: He was out of line for yelling at the teacher. / You’re out of line if you push people in the hallway.
To Put it Another Way: Acting wrong. / Not behaving.
19. Partner in crime
Meaning: A friend who helps you do something wrong or sneaky
Samples: Jake was my partner in crime for the prank. / She and her cousin were partners in crime at the sleepover.
To Put it Another Way: A buddy in trouble. / A friend in mischief.
20. Clean getaway
Meaning: Escape without getting caught
Samples: The thief made a clean getaway. / They got out of the haunted house with a clean getaway.
To Put it Another Way: Left without a trace. / Escaped safely.
21. Do something by the book
Meaning: Follow all the rules
Samples: Our teacher wants us to do the science project by the book. / I always do my taxes by the book.
To Put it Another Way: Follow the steps exactly. / Obey the rules.
22. Hit and run
Meaning: A car crash where the driver leaves
Samples: The news talked about a hit and run near the school. / A hit and run is serious and dangerous.
To Put it Another Way: Crash and leave. / Drive away after an accident.
23. Light-fingered
Meaning: Tends to steal small things
Samples: That kid is light-fingered watch your stuff. / A light-fingered person took my pen again.
To Put it Another Way: A sneaky thief. / Someone who steals little things.
24. Busted
Meaning: Caught doing something wrong
Samples: I got busted for using my phone in class. / The kids were busted sneaking candy before lunch.
To Put it Another Way: Caught in the act. / Found out.
25. Cover your tracks
Meaning: Hide what you did
Samples: He tried to cover his tracks after deleting the files. / She wiped the prints to cover her tracks.
To Put it Another Way: Hide the clues. / Erase the proof.
26. Crime wave
Meaning: A sudden rise in crime
Samples: The city had a crime wave last summer. / After the concert, police said there was a small crime wave.
To Put it Another Way: A lot of crimes in a short time. / Trouble rising in the area.
27. Get off scot-free
Meaning: Escape without punishment
Samples: She lied but got off scot-free. / He didn’t get in trouble at all he got off scot-free.
To Put it Another Way: Didn’t pay for it. / No punishment.
28. Lock up
Meaning: Put in jail
Samples: They locked up the thief right after court. / He was locked up for a year.
To Put it Another Way: Put behind bars. / Keep someone in jail.
29. On probation
Meaning: Watched closely instead of jail
Samples: He’s on probation and has to follow rules. / You can’t mess up while on probation.
To Put it Another Way: Still free but being watched. / A second chance with rules.
30. Cover-up
Meaning: Hiding the truth
Samples: The cover-up didn’t work. People found out. / They planned a cover-up to protect the team.
To Put it Another Way: Hiding what really happened. / Keeping secrets on purpose.
Find the Idioms: Crime Edition
It was the day of the school carnival. Everyone was excited, but something strange happened. The prize tickets from the class booth went missing. Ms. Carter was not happy. She told the class, “Someone will have to face the music if those tickets aren’t returned.”
Later, Jay noticed that Mia looked nervous. She had been near the booth earlier. “Do you think she did it?” he whispered to Zoe. “If she did, she’s trying to cover her tracks.”
The class searched for clues. Then, Jason shouted, “Look! The tickets are behind the art shelf!” But no one knew who put them there.
Ms. Carter said, “I won’t throw the book at anyone, but if someone took them as a joke, speak up.”
No one did.
“Looks like someone got off scot-free,” Zoe said.
“Or maybe it was an inside job,” Jay added.
The next day, Mia told Jay, “Thanks for not telling. I was just trying to pull a prank, but I got busted.”
Jay nodded. “Crime doesn’t pay.”
Activity Prompt:
Underline or list all the idioms you found in the story.
Answer Key
- Face the music
- Cover her tracks
- Throw the book at
- Got off scot-free
- Inside job
- Got busted
- Crime doesn’t pay
- Pull a prank
Conclusion
Idioms about crime help us talk about serious actions in a way that’s easier to understand. They are often used in stories, news, and everyday talk. Learning these phrases can help you follow what people mean, even if the words sound strange at first.
By knowing idioms like caught red-handed or face the music, you can understand more and even use them in your own writing. Just remember, using words wisely can help you say more with less.
