Idioms About Crime and Criminal

Justice. Read idioms, practising their usage by

doing sentences ! Brake a leg!

1. To cover one’s tracks

To cover one’s tracks means to conceal the evidence of a crime or
other (usually shameful or nefarious) act.

2. To get caught red handed

To get caught red handed means to be caught in the act of committing
a crime or breaking a rule.

3. To have a run-in with the law

To have a run-in with the law means to have trouble with the law.

4. White-collar crime
White-collar crime is non-violent financial crime committed by high-
ranking members of government or business.

5. To keep one’s nose clean

To keep one’s nose clean means to stay out of trouble (often
with the law).

6. To make off with something

To make off with something means to escape with something
stolen.
7. To do something by the book
To do something by the book means to strictly follow the established
rules, laws, or procedures.

8. The long arm of the law

The long arm of the law is used to communicate how powerful and
far-reaching the criminal justice system is.

9. To fess up
To fess up means to confess to something.

10. To take the rap for (something)

To take the rap for something means to accept the blame or
punishment for something. 

11. To snitch/to snitch on (someone)

To snitch means to inform on someone (usually to the police). The
word has a negative connotation. We can also use snitch as a noun as
a pejorative term for an informant.

12. To sing
To sing can mean to confess or to inform on someone.

13. To not have a leg to stand on

To not have a leg to stand on means to not have sufficient evidence to
prove something. We can use this term in both a criminal and non-
criminal context.
14. Open and shut case
An open and shut case is a case in which the facts are clear
and obvious.

15. Judge, jury, and executioner

Judge, jury, and executioner means that someone has the
complete power to punish someone.

16. To get off scot-free

To get off scot-free means to completely avoid a deserved
punishment.

17. To get a slap on the wrist

To get a slap on the wrist means to receive a minor,
insignificant punishment for something.

18. To face the music

To face the music means to accept the responsibility and
punishment for something.

19. To turn a blind eye to (something)

To turn a blind eye to something means to ignore something
that is wrong, immoral, or illegal.

20. To be behind bars

To be behind bars means to be serving time in prison.