Similes are fun ways to describe things by comparing them to something else. In this article, we’ll look at similes that describe crime. Crime is when someone breaks the law, like stealing or hurting others. Writers use similes to help us picture how crimes feel or how they happen.
By learning these similes, you can understand how writers make their stories more interesting. Similes can make even difficult ideas easier to understand by showing us what they’re like. Let’s explore some creative similes about crime that can make stories more exciting.
Similes About Crime
1. As sneaky as a thief
Meaning: Very sly and hidden, often used to describe someone trying to hide their actions.
Samples: She moved through the house as sneaky as a thief, careful not to wake anyone. / His actions were as sneaky as a thief trying to avoid being caught.
To Put it Another Way: He was very quiet and secretive. / She acted in a hidden, careful way.
2. As guilty as a criminal
Meaning: Feeling or looking as though one has done something wrong.
Samples: He looked as guilty as a criminal when the teacher asked who took the last cookie. / She was as guilty as a criminal after being caught cheating.
To Put it Another Way: He seemed to know he had done something wrong. / She looked like she had committed a mistake.
3. As cold as a hardened criminal
Meaning: Describing someone who is emotionally unfeeling or tough.
Samples: His heart was as cold as a hardened criminal after years of betrayal. / She faced the accusation as cold as a hardened criminal, showing no emotion.
To Put it Another Way: He seemed heartless. / She didn’t show any sign of regret.
4. As silent as a burglar
Meaning: Very quiet, trying not to make any noise.
Samples: He crept into the room as silent as a burglar, trying not to wake his parents. / She moved around the house as silent as a burglar, hoping no one would hear her.
To Put it Another Way: He was very quiet. / She was trying to sneak by without making a sound.
5. As slippery as an eel
Meaning: Very hard to catch or hold onto, often used to describe someone who avoids being caught.
Samples: The thief was as slippery as an eel, slipping through the police’s fingers. / He was as slippery as an eel when it came to avoiding responsibility.
To Put it Another Way: He was hard to pin down. / She managed to avoid being caught.
6. As bold as a robber
Meaning: Very daring or courageous, sometimes in a negative way.
Samples: She was as bold as a robber when she took the last piece of cake without asking. / The thief was as bold as a robber, stealing from the busiest store in town.
To Put it Another Way: She had no fear of being caught. / He did something daring, even though it was wrong.
7. As dangerous as a gang member
Meaning: Very harmful or risky, often describing a threatening situation or person.
Samples: The alley felt as dangerous as a gang member lurking in the shadows. / His actions were as dangerous as a gang member planning trouble.
To Put it Another Way: It was a risky place to be. / His actions were threatening.
8. As deceptive as a con artist
Meaning: Someone who tricks or deceives others in a clever or dishonest way.
Samples: His smile was as deceptive as a con artist, hiding his true intentions. / She was as deceptive as a con artist, making everyone believe her lies.
To Put it Another Way: He tricked others with a fake appearance. / She misled everyone with false promises.
9. As sneaky as a fox
Meaning: Very clever and deceitful, often with a hidden agenda.
Samples: He was as sneaky as a fox, plotting behind everyone’s back. / She was as sneaky as a fox, getting away with her secret plan.
To Put it Another Way: He was clever and tricky. / She was secretly planning something.
10. As cruel as a kidnapper
Meaning: Showing great unkindness or lack of compassion.
Samples: His words were as cruel as a kidnapper, taking away her sense of safety. / The bully’s actions were as cruel as a kidnapper, making everyone fear him.
To Put it Another Way: He was very unkind. / She showed no sympathy for others.
11. As sly as a fox
Meaning: Very clever in a way that is not always honest or fair.
Samples: She was as sly as a fox, tricking everyone into thinking she was innocent. / He was as sly as a fox, managing to dodge the rules.
To Put it Another Way: She was crafty and clever. / He used tricks to get out of trouble.
12. As quick as a getaway car
Meaning: Very fast, especially when trying to escape or avoid being caught.
Samples: The thief ran as quick as a getaway car, escaping the scene in seconds. / She moved as quick as a getaway car, dodging all obstacles in her way.
To Put it Another Way: He ran super fast to escape. / She was fast and managed to avoid being caught.
13. As silent as a graveyard
Meaning: Very quiet, often used to describe an eerie or tense atmosphere.
Samples: The room was as silent as a graveyard when the police arrived. / The night was as silent as a graveyard, with no sounds except the wind.
To Put it Another Way: It was very quiet and still. / There was no noise at all.
14. As dirty as a crime scene
Meaning: Very messy or tainted, often with a negative connotation.
Samples: The house was as dirty as a crime scene after the party. / His reputation was as dirty as a crime scene after the scandal.
To Put it Another Way: It was very messy and disorganized. / He was involved in something bad.
15. As guilty as sin
Meaning: Very obviously guilty, without a doubt.
Samples: He looked as guilty as sin when the teacher caught him cheating. / She was as guilty as sin, not even trying to deny it.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t hide the fact that he was guilty. / She showed clear signs of being responsible.
16. As deceptive as a disguise
Meaning: Designed to hide the truth or mislead others.
Samples: His smile was as deceptive as a disguise, hiding his true feelings. / She was as deceptive as a disguise, pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
To Put it Another Way: He was hiding his real intentions. / She was pretending to be something she wasn’t.
17. As reckless as a criminal
Meaning: Very careless, often causing harm or danger without thinking.
Samples: He was as reckless as a criminal, speeding through the streets without regard for others. / She acted as reckless as a criminal, ignoring all the rules.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t care about the consequences. / She acted without thinking.
18. As trapped as a rat in a cage
Meaning: Feeling stuck or cornered, unable to escape.
Samples: He felt as trapped as a rat in a cage when the police arrived. / She was as trapped as a rat in a cage, unable to find a way out.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t escape. / She felt completely stuck.
19. As shady as an alleyway
Meaning: Suspicious or dishonest, often with a hidden agenda.
Samples: His behavior was as shady as an alleyway, making everyone uncomfortable. / She acted as shady as an alleyway, avoiding the truth.
To Put it Another Way: He seemed suspicious. / She acted in a way that made people doubt her.
20. As violent as a street brawl
Meaning: Very aggressive or intense, often involving physical conflict.
Samples: The argument became as violent as a street brawl, with everyone shouting. / Their fight was as violent as a street brawl, pushing and shoving.
To Put it Another Way: It was a very aggressive situation. / The conflict got out of control quickly.
21. As tricky as a con man
Meaning: Very clever in a dishonest or deceptive way.
Samples: He was as tricky as a con man, getting everyone to believe his story. / She acted as tricky as a con man, hiding her true intentions.
To Put it Another Way: He used tricks to deceive others. / She was sly in her actions.
22. As violent as a fight in a bar
Meaning: Very aggressive or intense, involving physical confrontation.
Samples: The argument escalated, becoming as violent as a fight in a bar. / The brawl at school was as violent as a fight in a bar.
To Put it Another Way: The fight was physical and intense. / It was a very aggressive situation.
23. As shady as a used car salesman
Meaning: Suspicious or dishonest, often with ulterior motives.
Samples: His offer seemed as shady as a used car salesman, trying to hide the flaws. / She spoke as shady as a used car salesman, making empty promises.
To Put it Another Way: He seemed untrustworthy. / She was being dishonest.
24. As sneaky as a pickpocket
Meaning: Very secretive, trying not to get caught while doing something wrong.
Samples: He moved as sneaky as a pickpocket, stealing the wallet without anyone noticing. / She acted as sneaky as a pickpocket, hiding the evidence.
To Put it Another Way: He was very secretive. / She tried not to get caught.
25. As elusive as a fugitive
Meaning: Very hard to catch or find, often used to describe someone trying to escape.
Samples: The thief was as elusive as a fugitive, always staying one step ahead of the police. / He was as elusive as a fugitive, never staying in one place too long.
To Put it Another Way: He was difficult to catch. / She managed to avoid being found.
26. As dirty as a drug deal
Meaning: Very morally wrong, often involving illegal activities.
Samples: The situation felt as dirty as a drug deal, with everyone involved hiding something. / His actions were as dirty as a drug deal, sneaky and dishonest.
To Put it Another Way: It was wrong and shady. / He was involved in something illegal.
27. As ruthless as a gang leader
Meaning: Showing no mercy or kindness, often in a cruel or aggressive way.
Samples: His leadership was as ruthless as a gang leader, using fear to control everyone. / She acted as ruthless as a gang leader, stopping at nothing to get her way.
To Put it Another Way: He showed no mercy. / She was very harsh in her actions.
28. As quick as a getaway
Meaning: Very fast, especially when trying to escape from something or someone.
Samples: The thief ran as quick as a getaway, escaping without a trace. / She made her escape as quick as a getaway, dodging the authorities.
To Put it Another Way: He escaped fast. / She moved quickly to avoid being caught.
29. As sneaky as a rat in a trap
Meaning: Very secretive, often with bad intentions.
Samples: He moved as sneaky as a rat in a trap, trying to avoid being seen. / Her behavior was as sneaky as a rat in a trap, always hiding her true feelings.
To Put it Another Way: He was very secretive. / She kept things hidden from others.
30. As menacing as a dark alley
Meaning: Very threatening or dangerous, often associated with fear.
Samples: The dark street was as menacing as a dark alley, making everyone feel uneasy. / His glare was as menacing as a dark alley, full of danger.
To Put it Another Way: It felt threatening. / He looked dangerous.
31. As shady as an illegal deal
Meaning: Very suspicious or dishonest, often involving illegal activities.
Samples: His offer seemed as shady as an illegal deal, with too many hidden risks. / She acted as shady as an illegal deal, making everyone suspicious.
To Put it Another Way: He was involved in something dishonest. / She made people doubt her intentions.
32. As cruel as a hitman
Meaning: Very heartless or unkind, often involved in harmful actions.
Samples: He treated others as cruel as a hitman, showing no sympathy for anyone. / She was as cruel as a hitman, causing harm without a second thought.
To Put it Another Way: He was very heartless. / She acted without any care for others.
33. As silent as a locked door
Meaning: Very quiet, not making any noise or giving away any information.
Samples: She remained as silent as a locked door, refusing to say a word. / The room was as silent as a locked door, with no one speaking.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t make a sound. / The place was very quiet.
34. As slow as a police investigation
Meaning: Very slow, often with delays or complications.
Samples: The process was as slow as a police investigation, dragging on for months. / His response was as slow as a police investigation, with no clear answers.
To Put it Another Way: It was taking a long time. / The process was delayed.
35. As false as an alibi
Meaning: Very untrue or dishonest, often used to cover up wrongdoing.
Samples: His story was as false as an alibi, easily proven wrong. / She gave an alibi as false as a lie, hoping no one would catch her.
To Put it Another Way: His story wasn’t true. / She made up a lie to cover up her actions.
36. As dangerous as a street fight
Meaning: Very risky or involving great harm.
Samples: The situation escalated, becoming as dangerous as a street fight. / His actions were as dangerous as a street fight, threatening everyone around him.
To Put it Another Way: It was a risky situation. / His actions were very harmful.
37. As shady as a hidden agenda
Meaning: Very suspicious or dishonest, often with a secret plan.
Samples: His motives were as shady as a hidden agenda, making everyone question his actions. / She acted as shady as a hidden agenda, never fully revealing her plans.
To Put it Another Way: He had a secret plan. / She kept her intentions hidden.
38. As quick as a bank robber’s escape
Meaning: Very fast, especially when trying to avoid getting caught.
Samples: He moved as quick as a bank robber’s escape, darting out the door before anyone could stop him. / Her getaway was as quick as a bank robber’s escape, vanishing before the police arrived.
To Put it Another Way: He escaped quickly. / She left in a flash.
39. As deep as a crime syndicate
Meaning: Very complex, often involving hidden plans or operations.
Samples: The situation was as deep as a crime syndicate, with connections that were hard to uncover. / His involvement in the scam was as deep as a crime syndicate, spanning multiple layers.
To Put it Another Way: It was very complicated. / There were many hidden connections.
40. As silent as a stolen item
Meaning: Very quiet, especially when trying to avoid detection.
Samples: The room was as silent as a stolen item, as everyone waited for the thief to be caught. / She stood there as silent as a stolen item, not wanting to draw attention.
To Put it Another Way: It was eerily quiet. / She tried to stay unnoticed.
41. As dirty as a criminal’s conscience
Meaning: Very morally wrong, often involving guilt or shame.
Samples: He felt as dirty as a criminal’s conscience after lying to his friends. / She carried the guilt as dirty as a criminal’s conscience, unable to forget her actions.
To Put it Another Way: He felt guilty. / She felt ashamed of what she did.
42. As elusive as a ghost
Meaning: Very difficult to find or catch, often disappearing without a trace.
Samples: The thief was as elusive as a ghost, disappearing into the night without a trace. / He was as elusive as a ghost, avoiding capture at every turn.
To Put it Another Way: He was hard to find. / She was difficult to catch.
43. As cold as a stolen heart
Meaning: Emotionally unfeeling or unkind, especially in relationships.
Samples: His words were as cold as a stolen heart, leaving her feeling empty. / She acted as cold as a stolen heart, showing no care for others.
To Put it Another Way: He was emotionally distant. / She didn’t care about others.
44. As dark as a secret hideout
Meaning: Very mysterious or hidden, often with negative connotations.
Samples: The plan was as dark as a secret hideout, hidden away from everyone’s eyes. / His intentions were as dark as a secret hideout, known only to him.
To Put it Another Way: It was kept secret. / His plans were hidden from view.
45. As sly as a shadow
Meaning: Very sneaky or difficult to detect.
Samples: He moved as sly as a shadow, unnoticed by the others. / She was as sly as a shadow, always staying in the background.
To Put it Another Way: He was hard to see. / She was difficult to detect.
46. As violent as a riot
Meaning: Very chaotic and aggressive, often involving a lot of damage.
Samples: The protest turned as violent as a riot, with people pushing and shouting. / Their argument became as violent as a riot, filled with anger and shouting.
To Put it Another Way: It was full of chaos. / The conflict was intense and aggressive.
47. As secretive as a criminal mastermind
Meaning: Very careful in hiding plans or intentions.
Samples: His actions were as secretive as a criminal mastermind, keeping everything hidden from the team. / She planned everything as secretive as a criminal mastermind, keeping all the details to herself.
To Put it Another Way: He kept his plans hidden. / She acted with great secrecy.
48. As dangerous as a double-cross
Meaning: Very risky, often involving betrayal.
Samples: The deal felt as dangerous as a double-cross, with someone sure to get hurt. / He took the risk as dangerous as a double-cross, not knowing who to trust.
To Put it Another Way: It was full of danger. / He was involved in a betrayal.
49. As untrustworthy as a liar
Meaning: Someone who cannot be believed or relied upon.
Samples: His promises were as untrustworthy as a liar, never following through. / She was as untrustworthy as a liar, constantly changing her story.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t be believed. / She was always changing her story.
50. As unsettling as a confession
Meaning: Something that makes you feel uncomfortable or anxious, often because of guilt.
Samples: The news was as unsettling as a confession, making everyone uneasy. / His actions were as unsettling as a confession, leaving everyone in silence.
To Put it Another Way: It made people uncomfortable. / It was full of guilt and discomfort.
Find the Topics: Similes About Crime
Reading Passage:
Last Saturday, the school fair was in full swing, with bright lights and laughter filling the air. But suddenly, things took a turn. A student noticed that his wallet was missing. It felt as sneaky as a pickpocket was behind the crime. The whole fairground went as silent as a locked door, everyone waiting for someone to speak up.
The principal tried to solve the situation, looking as calm as a criminal mastermind. The crowd began to whisper, and the atmosphere became as dangerous as a street fight. Suddenly, a group of students rushed to the area, moving as quickly as a getaway car. It seemed like they were in a hurry, and there was something about their actions that felt as shady as a hidden agenda.
After a few minutes, the wallet was found. But the thief was still at large. The situation made everyone feel as elusive as a ghost, wondering who could have done it. The principal promised to investigate further, but it was clear that the crime had left everyone feeling as cold as a stolen heart.
Later, one of the students confessed, looking as guilty as sin. The whole crowd then realized that sometimes things are not always as they seem, and a small mistake could feel as dangerous as a double-cross.
Your Task:
Read the passage carefully and underline or list all 12 similes related to crime found in the story.
Answer Key
- As sneaky as a pickpocket
- As silent as a locked door
- As calm as a criminal mastermind
- As dangerous as a street fight
- As quick as a getaway car
- As shady as a hidden agenda
- As elusive as a ghost
- As cold as a stolen heart
- As guilty as sin
- As dangerous as a double-cross
- As untrustworthy as a liar
- As deceptive as an alibi
Conclusion
Similes are powerful tools that help us understand and describe situations more clearly. When it comes to crime, these similes make us picture the event more vividly, showing us how sneaky, dangerous, or tricky crime can be. They allow us to express emotions, actions, and feelings related to crime in creative and effective ways.
By learning and using these similes, we can add depth to our writing and speech. They help us describe not just actions, but the atmosphere and feelings involved in a situation. So next time you need to describe a crime scene or a sneaky action, try using one of these similes. It will make your writing or conversation more engaging and clear.
Similes bring color to our language, and when used well, they make our descriptions more interesting and memorable.
