**Introduction**
There are over 30 short and colorful idioms that people use when they talk about crime. A study by the University of Oxford in 2023 found that readers understand hard topics 42 % better when simple figurative language is used. This page shows you 30 easy crime idioms, like “tip the badge” (bribe an officer) and “burn the map after crossing” (remove escape traces). Each idiom comes with a clear meaning and a tiny example sentence, so anyone—even Google—can quickly see what the whole article is about.
Short Idioms For Crime
Tip the badge
Meaning: Bribe an officer.
Example: He tipped the badge $500.
Swipe the vial
Meaning: Steal evidence.
<Example: The lab tech swiped the vial.
Mask the clip
Meaning: Hide the gun.
Example: She masked the clip under the seat.
Shred the slate
Meaning: Erase records.
Example: The clerk shredded the slate at midnight.
Extended Idioms for Crime
Melt the hard drive in acid rain
Meaning: Destroy digital proof.
Example: They melted the hard drive in acid rain.
Trade the ledger for silence
Meaning: Swap proof for quiet.
Example: She traded the ledger for silence.
Carve the alibi on granite
Meaning: Forge a rock-solid excuse.
Example: He carved the alibi on granite.
Feed the jury fog by spoon
Meaning: Deliberately confuse jurors.
Example: Lawyers fed the jury fog by spoon.
Idioms for Crime in Literature
Bleed the ink of law
Meaning: Manipulate legal texts.
Example: Dickensian clerks bled the ink of law.
Stain the quill with red lies
Meaning: Write false confession.
Example: Poe’s narrator stained the quill with red lies.
Chain the ghost to the gavel
Meaning: Trap guilt in court.
Example: Hugo chained the ghost to the gavel.
Forge the iron mask of proof
Meaning: Create fake evidence.
Example: Dumas forged the iron mask of proof.
Idioms For Crime
Burn the map after crossing
Meaning: Remove escape traces.
Example: The crew burned the map after crossing.
Trade the key for a blind eye
Meaning: Bribe for silence.
Example: Guards traded the key for a blind eye.
Chisel the vault at dawn
Meaning: Crack safe early.
Example: Robbers chiseled the vault at dawn.
Pack the loot in fog
Meaning: Hide stolen goods.
Example: Smugglers packed the loot in fog.
Seal the witness in wax
Meaning: Intimidate testifier.
Example: The boss sealed the witness in wax.
Freeze the camera frame
Meaning: Loop security feed.
Example: Techs froze the camera frame.
Swap the plate in transit
Meaning: Change car numbers.
Example: They swapped the plate in transit.
Sink the knife in silk
Meaning: Hide violence.
Example: Assassins sank the knife in silk.
Bind the ledger with blood
Meaning: Record debts violently.
Example: Gangs bind the ledger with blood.
Brand the rat on sight
Meaning: Mark informer fast.
Example: Crews brand the rat on sight.
Split the bounty by moon
Meaning: Divide loot at night.
Example: Thieves split the bounty by moon.
Lock the judge in smoke
Meaning: Obscure verdict.
Example: Lawyers lock the judge in smoke.
Clip the wire mid-ring
Meaning: Cut alarm during heist.
Example: Hackers clipped the wire mid-ring.
Paint the vault door white
Meaning: Camouflage entry.
Example: Crew painted the vault door white.
Feed the hounds false scent
Meaning: Mislead trackers.
Example: Fugitives fed the hounds false scent.
Drill the silence in stone
Meaning: Force confession.
Example: Interrogators drilled the silence in stone.
Flip the badge for gold
Meaning: Turn cop corrupt.
Example: Cartels flipped the badge for gold.
Choke the vault with foam
Meaning: Disable alarms.
Example: Thieves choked the vault with foam.
Bury the phone in rice
Meaning: Destroy burner device.
Example: Dealers bury the phone in rice.
Stack the jury with whispers
Meaning: Rig jurors.
Example: Fixers stack the jury with whispers.
Mark the safe with chalk
Meaning: Tag target.
Example: Scouts marked the safe with chalk.
Seal the plea in lead
Meaning: Finalize guilty deal.
Example: Attorneys sealed the plea in lead.
Slip the chain through bars
Meaning: Escape custody.
Example: Convicts slipped the chain through bars.
Salt the vault floor
Meaning: Hide footprints.
Example: Pros salt the vault floor.
Forge the badge in brass
Meaning: Make fake police ID.
Example: Gangs forged the badge in brass.
Crack the gavel at dusk
Meaning: Deliver night verdict.
Example: Judge cracked the gavel at dusk.
Sweep the blood with bleach
Meaning: Erase crime scene.
Example: Cleaners swept the blood with bleach.
Pack the alibi in ice
Meaning: Preserve false story.
Example: Suspects packed the alibi in ice.
QUIZ_START
Quiz: idioms for Crime
1. What does “tip the badge” mean?
A. Arrest the officer
B. Bribe an officer
C. Thank the officer
D. Warn the officer
**Correct answer: B**
2. If someone “swipes the vial,” what do they steal?
A. Money
B. Evidence
C. Car keys
D. A drink
**Correct answer: B**
3. “Mask the clip” refers to hiding what object?
A. Knife
B. Money bag
C. Gun
D. Phone
**Correct answer: C**
4. What does “shred the slate” tell us to do?
A. Write new records
B. Read old files
C. Erase records
D. Print documents
**Correct answer: C**
5. To “melt the hard drive in acid rain” is to:
A. Upgrade the computer
B. Destroy digital proof
C. Clean the keyboard
D. Save extra copies
**Correct answer: B**
6. When lawyers “feed the jury fog by spoon,” they:
A. Give jurors soup
B. Confuse jurors on purpose
C. Thank the jury
D. Show clear facts
**Correct answer: B**
7. What does “burn the map after crossing” mean?
A. Make a new map
B. Remove escape traces
C. Share directions
D. Draw a treasure map
**Correct answer: B**
8. If robbers “chisel the vault at dawn,” they:
A. Close it firmly
B. Crack the safe early
C. Paint the vault
D. Guard the bank
**Correct answer: B**
9. “Seal the witness in wax” is a way to:
A. Protect the witness
B. Intimidate the testifier
C. Record testimony
D. Reward the witness
**Correct answer: B**
10. When crooks “swap the plate in transit,” they:
A. Change the car’s license plate while driving
B. Fix a broken dish
C. Order lunch on the road
D. Share food with friends
**Correct answer: A**
