Idioms to do with crime Match the idioms 1-15 with the correct definitions a-o: 1. a con trick a) (of goods) to be stolen 2. a fence b) bribe someone 3. an inside job c) discover someone in the act of committing a crime 4. blow the whistle on d) a dishonest trick played on someone in order to get someone/something money from them 5. case a joint e) legitimize money obtained illegally 6. catch someone red-handed f) publicly reveal something illegal or dishonest 7. cook the books g) stealing a car and driving it, often dangerously, just for 8. do a bunk fun 9. do time h) examine or inspect the place you intend to rob 10. fall off the back of a lorry i) someone who buys and sells stolen goods 11. go straight j) falsify a company’s account; cheat at bookkeeping 12. get off scot-free k) a crime committed by someone connected with the place 13. grease someone’s palm or organization where the crime took place 14. joy-riding l) serve a prison sentence 15. launder money m) give up a criminal way of life; not break the law again n) disappear without telling anyone where you are going o) go unpunished Criminals and wrongdoers Match the criminals and wrongdoers 1-16 with the correct definitions a-p 1. An accomplice a. attacks people in the street and steals their money or possessions. 2. An assassin b. takes goods from shops without paying for them. 3. A burglar c. deliberately damages public property, often because he/she is bored or 4. A charlatan enjoys doing it. 5. A criminal d. murders someone important, such as a king or a president. 6. A forger e. leads others to do wrong or to make trouble. 7. An impostor f. is someone who steals (usually without violence). 8. A juvenile delinquent g. helps another person to commit a crime. 9. A mugger h. deceives others pretending to have special skills or knowledge, especially 10. A poacher about medicine. 11. A ringleader i. steals from banks, shops, etc., usually planning them in advance in great 12. A robber detail. 13. A shoplifter j. makes copies of money, letters, documents, etc. in order to deceive 14. A thief people. 15. A traitor k. betrays his or her country. 16. A vandal l. deceives people by pretending to be someone else. m. breaks into houses, shops, etc. in order to steal things. n. is a young person who has broken the law. o. catches animals, fish or birds without permission. p. is someone who is guilty of a crime (or several crimes).
