Crime can happen in many ways, and it often causes fear, confusion, or chaos. People use metaphors to talk about crime and the feelings it brings, helping to describe it in more powerful ways. Instead of just saying “crime is bad,” metaphors can make crime feel more intense, mysterious, or dangerous.
Metaphors compare crime to other things, like a shadow lurking in the night or a storm that shakes everything. These comparisons help us understand the effects of crime and its impact on society. In this article, we’ll explore 40 creative metaphors about crime, so you can better understand how people describe it and its consequences.
Metaphors about Crime
1. Crime is a shadow lurking in the dark
Meaning: Crime hides in secrecy, often appearing suddenly.
Samples: Crime is a shadow lurking in the dark, always waiting to strike. / The criminal was like a shadow lurking in the alley, waiting for the right moment.
To Put it Another Way: Crime hides in secret. / It sneaks up when you least expect it.
2. Crime is a poison in the community
Meaning: Crime slowly destroys or harms the community.
Samples: Crime is a poison in the community, spreading distrust and fear. / The rise in crime felt like poison seeping into our peaceful town.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is damaging. / It’s destroying the trust in the community.
3. Crime is a fire that spreads
Meaning: Crime starts small but can grow quickly and uncontrollably.
Samples: Crime is a fire that spreads across the neighborhood. / Once crime started, it spread like wildfire through the city.
To Put it Another Way: It grows rapidly. / It becomes bigger and harder to control.
4. Crime is a ticking time bomb
Meaning: Crime builds up and can explode into something dangerous at any moment.
Samples: The rise in petty theft felt like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. / The situation with crime in the area was like a ticking time bomb.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is waiting to happen. / It’s a danger that could erupt suddenly.
5. Crime is a silent thief
Meaning: Crime happens quietly, often without anyone noticing at first.
Samples: Crime is a silent thief that steals the peace of our town. / The rise in crime was like a silent thief, sneaking into every corner.
To Put it Another Way: It happens quietly. / Crime steals quietly from society.
6. Crime is a storm that shakes the foundation
Meaning: Crime causes chaos and disruption, shaking the stability of society.
Samples: Crime is a storm that shakes the foundation of trust in the city. / The recent wave of crime was a storm that rattled our entire community.
To Put it Another Way: It causes chaos. / Crime disrupts everything.
7. Crime is a hole in the fabric of society
Meaning: Crime creates a gap or tear in the well-being of society.
Samples: Crime is a hole in the fabric of society that weakens our unity. / The rise in crime was like a hole in the fabric of our peaceful neighborhood.
To Put it Another Way: Crime breaks down society. / It creates divisions in the community.
8. Crime is a virus spreading through the city
Meaning: Crime spreads quickly, affecting more people as it grows.
Samples: Crime is a virus spreading through the city, infecting everything in its path. / The increase in crime was like a virus that couldn’t be stopped.
To Put it Another Way: Crime spreads rapidly. / It affects more and more people.
9. Crime is a knife in the back
Meaning: Crime betrays trust and causes deep harm.
Samples: Crime is a knife in the back of the community, cutting at the heart of what makes us safe. / The robbery felt like a knife in the back, hitting when we least expected it.
To Put it Another Way: It’s a painful betrayal. / Crime harms deeply.
10. Crime is a crack in the wall
Meaning: Crime weakens the strength of society, starting as a small problem that can grow.
Samples: Crime is a crack in the wall of society, slowly weakening everything. / The rise in crime started as a small crack in the wall but soon spread.
To Put it Another Way: Crime undermines society. / It starts small but grows over time.
11. Crime is a broken window
Meaning: Crime makes everything feel unsafe and fragile, like something broken.
Samples: Crime is a broken window, shattering the sense of safety in our neighborhood. / The first robbery was like a broken window, making everyone feel exposed.
To Put it Another Way: It destroys safety. / Crime makes things feel fragile.
12. Crime is a dirty secret
Meaning: Crime is hidden and secret, often kept quiet by those involved.
Samples: Crime is a dirty secret that people try to ignore, but it affects everyone. / The city had a dirty secret, hidden crimes that no one wanted to talk about.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is hidden. / It’s something that’s swept under the rug.
13. Crime is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Crime disguises itself as something harmless before revealing its true danger.
Samples: Crime is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hiding under the guise of harmless actions. / The thief acted kind but was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
To Put it Another Way: Crime pretends to be innocent. / It hides its true nature.
14. Crime is a ticking clock
Meaning: Crime is always there, counting down, waiting for the right moment to happen.
Samples: Crime is a ticking clock, constantly counting down until something happens. / The threat of crime in the city felt like a ticking clock.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is always looming. / It feels like it’s going to happen soon.
15. Crime is a snake in the grass
Meaning: Crime hides quietly, waiting to strike when you least expect it.
Samples: Crime is a snake in the grass, always lying in wait to strike. / The criminal was like a snake in the grass, blending in until it was too late.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is sneaky. / It’s hidden until it attacks.
16. Crime is a black cloud hanging over the city
Meaning: Crime creates an atmosphere of fear and unease, like a dark presence.
Samples: Crime is a black cloud hanging over the city, always threatening to pour down. / The feeling of crime was a black cloud that blocked the sunlight of safety.
To Put it Another Way: Crime causes fear. / It darkens the mood of the area.
17. Crime is a nightmare come to life
Meaning: Crime is so bad that it feels like a horrifying, waking dream.
Samples: The robbery was a nightmare come to life for the family. / The violent crime spree was a nightmare come to life in the neighborhood.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is terrifying. / It’s as bad as a nightmare.
18. Crime is a spider’s web
Meaning: Crime traps people or situations, making it hard to escape.
Samples: Crime is a spider’s web, slowly trapping more and more people in its sticky strands. / Once you get involved in crime, it feels like a spider’s web, and escape is hard.
To Put it Another Way: Crime entangles people. / It’s difficult to get away from.
19. Crime is a black hole
Meaning: Crime sucks the life and energy out of everything around it.
Samples: Crime is a black hole, draining the life and energy from the community. / The growing crime felt like a black hole, pulling everything into darkness.
To Put it Another Way: Crime drains society. / It empties the community of joy.
20. Crime is a fast-moving train
Meaning: Crime is growing quickly and is hard to stop.
Samples: Crime is a fast-moving train, and the city is struggling to catch up. / The rise in crime felt like a fast-moving train, unstoppable and loud.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is speeding ahead. / It’s out of control.
21. Crime is a deadly game
Meaning: Crime is a dangerous activity with serious risks.
Samples: Crime is a deadly game, where the stakes are too high. / The criminal’s life became a deadly game, always with danger around.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is risky. / It’s a game with dangerous consequences.
22. Crime is a virus
Meaning: Crime spreads easily and quickly, affecting many people.
Samples: Crime is a virus, spreading from one part of the city to another. / The crime wave was a virus, infecting everyone in its path.
To Put it Another Way: Crime spreads rapidly. / It infects everything it touches.
23. Crime is a thief in the night
Meaning: Crime strikes quietly and unexpectedly, often when you’re not prepared.
Samples: Crime is a thief in the night, coming when we least expect it. / The robbery felt like a thief in the night, creeping in without a sound.
To Put it Another Way: Crime comes silently. / It strikes when you’re not looking.
24. Crime is a flood
Meaning: Crime can overwhelm a community, just like a flood.
Samples: The crime in the city was a flood, sweeping away safety and peace. / That neighborhood was overwhelmed by crime, like a flood washing everything away.
To Put it Another Way: Crime overwhelms. / It sweeps everything in its path.
25. Crime is a bad seed
Meaning: Crime starts small but can grow into something much worse.
Samples: Crime is a bad seed planted in the heart of the city. / If left unchecked, crime grows like a bad seed.
To Put it Another Way: Crime starts small. / It grows into something harmful.
26. Crime is a monster hiding under the bed
Meaning: Crime lurks unseen, ready to cause harm at any moment.
Samples: Crime is a monster hiding under the bed, waiting to attack when you least expect it. / The fear of crime was like a monster hiding in the dark corners of the city.
To Put it Another Way: Crime hides in the shadows. / It’s ready to pounce.
27. Crime is a knife-edge
Meaning: Crime brings danger and can lead to violence at any moment.
Samples: The situation in the neighborhood was a knife-edge, with crime threatening to break out at any time. / Walking through the area felt like walking on a knife-edge, with danger everywhere.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is a constant threat. / It could turn violent at any moment.
28. Crime is a slippery slope
Meaning: Once crime starts, it’s hard to stop and can lead to worse things.
Samples: Crime is a slippery slope, where one small offense leads to another. / The rise in petty theft was a slippery slope, quickly spiraling into bigger crimes.
To Put it Another Way: Crime leads to more crime. / It’s hard to stop once it starts.
29. Crime is a wound on society
Meaning: Crime harms society deeply, like a wound that doesn’t heal.
Samples: Crime is a wound on society, one that leaves lasting scars. / The city was hurting from the wound of increasing crime.
To Put it Another Way: Crime leaves lasting damage. / It’s a deep injury to the community.
30. Crime is a storm cloud
Meaning: Crime brings a sense of impending trouble and fear, like a storm cloud.
Samples: Crime is a storm cloud hanging over the city, waiting to break. / Every time the crime rate rises, it feels like a storm cloud is coming closer.
To Put it Another Way: Crime brings fear. / It looms overhead.
31. Crime is a wildfire
Meaning: Crime spreads uncontrollably, getting worse quickly.
Samples: Crime is a wildfire, spreading through the city without anyone able to stop it. / The crime wave was like a wildfire, burning through the community.
To Put it Another Way: Crime spreads fast. / It’s uncontrollable.
32. Crime is a broken mirror
Meaning: Crime reflects the brokenness in society.
Samples: Crime is a broken mirror, showing the cracks in our community. / The increase in crime felt like a broken mirror reflecting our social issues.
To Put it Another Way: Crime shows society’s flaws. / It reveals the cracks in our system.
33. Crime is a game of chance
Meaning: Crime is unpredictable and often based on luck or opportunity.
Samples: Crime is a game of chance, where the outcome depends on luck and timing. / For the criminal, committing the crime was a game of chance.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is uncertain. / It’s a risky gamble.
34. Crime is a bloodstain
Meaning: Crime leaves lasting damage or marks on the community.
Samples: Crime is a bloodstain on the city’s reputation. / That robbery left a bloodstain on the neighborhood’s safety.
To Put it Another Way: Crime leaves a permanent mark. / It stains the community.
35. Crime is a sinking ship
Meaning: Crime drags society down, taking everything with it.
Samples: Crime is a sinking ship, pulling everyone down with it. / The rise in crime was like a sinking ship, slowly dragging the neighborhood into despair.
To Put it Another Way: Crime destroys everything. / It pulls society down.
36. Crime is a thief of peace
Meaning: Crime steals the sense of safety and calm in a community.
Samples: Crime is a thief of peace, stealing the comfort of daily life. / The constant threat of crime was a thief of peace in our town.
To Put it Another Way: Crime takes away safety. / It robs us of peace.
37. Crime is a crack in the system
Meaning: Crime exposes weaknesses in society or institutions.
Samples: Crime is a crack in the system, showing how vulnerable our society is. / The rise in crime revealed a crack in the system, one that needed fixing.
To Put it Another Way: Crime points out weaknesses. / It exposes the flaws in our system.
38. Crime is a runaway train
Meaning: Crime is moving fast and out of control, difficult to stop.
Samples: Crime is a runaway train, speeding through the city without anyone being able to stop it. / The rise in crime felt like a runaway train.
To Put it Another Way: Crime is out of control. / It’s unstoppable.
39. Crime is a dark alley
Meaning: Crime hides in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Samples: Crime is a dark alley, where danger lurks just out of sight. / Walking through the area felt like walking down a dark alley, with danger at every turn.
To Put it Another Way: Crime hides in secrecy. / It’s always waiting to strike.
40. Crime is a bloodhound on the hunt
Meaning: Crime relentlessly pursues victims, just like a bloodhound searching for prey.
Samples: Crime is a bloodhound on the hunt, always searching for its next victim. / The criminal was like a bloodhound on the hunt, following every lead.
To Put it Another Way: Crime seeks out targets. / It chases down opportunities.
Find the Topics: Metaphors about Crime
Activity: “The Rising Crime Wave”
The city had always been a peaceful place, but lately, crime was on the rise. The first robbery felt like a thief in the night, creeping in without warning. The police warned that crime was a fire that spreads, and soon, the peaceful streets were no longer safe.
People began to feel like they were living with a ticking time bomb, always waiting for something bad to happen. The trust in the neighborhood was shattered, like a broken mirror, showing the cracks in the safety they once had.
One morning, a new crime spree hit, and it felt like a flood sweeping through the city. The criminals were like a virus, infecting every part of the town, leaving fear in their wake. The police seemed helpless, like a sinking ship, struggling to stay afloat.
However, some people still believed they could stop it, hoping that with enough effort, they could prevent crime from becoming a runaway train. Despite the growing threat, the community felt that they were stronger than the shadow lurking in the dark.
Your Task:
Can you underline or list all 10 metaphors about crime you found in the story?
Answer Key
- A thief in the night
- A fire that spreads
- A ticking time bomb
- A broken mirror
- A flood
- A virus
- A sinking ship
- A runaway train
- A shadow lurking in the dark
- A thief of peace
Conclusion
Crime is a topic that affects everyone, and using metaphors can help us better understand the fear and chaos it causes. By comparing crime to a “runaway train” or a “shadow lurking in the dark,” we can see just how powerful and unpredictable it is.
Metaphors make complex issues, like crime, easier to talk about. They help paint a vivid picture of the effects crime has on communities. Next time you hear about crime or experience it, think about how metaphors can help describe the way it feels and the damage it causes.
