Crime & Trouble

Mischief, problems, police, and getting into strife

Introduction

From "nicking" things to getting "nicked," English slang has a rich vocabulary for the shadier side of life. Whether you're in "hot water," doing something "dodgy," or dealing with "the fuzz," these expressions reflect attitudes toward crime, punishment, and trouble.

British criminal slang has deep roots in Cockney rhyming slang and the underworld vocabulary that emerged from London's East End. American English contributed its own colorful terms from Prohibition-era gangsters to modern street slang. Australian slang brings a characteristically irreverent attitude to crime and mischief.

This chapter covers the language of trouble—from petty mischief to serious crime, from getting caught to getting away with it.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (67)

• Nick To steal; also a police station; also to arrest.
• Pinch To steal; also to arrest.
• Swipe To steal, especially casually or opportunistically.
• The fuzz The police (dated slang).
• The filth The police (British, derogatory).
• Old Bill The police (British).
• Grass An informer; to inform on someone to authorities.
• Snitch An informer; to inform on someone.
• Rat An informer; a traitor.
• In hot water In trouble.
• Sticky fingers A tendency to steal; a thief.
• Five-finger discount Stealing (humorous euphemism).
• Caught red-handed Caught in the act of doing something wrong.
• Bang to rights Caught with undeniable evidence of guilt.
• Do time To serve a prison sentence.
• Behind bars In prison.
• In the slammer In prison.
• Porridge Prison; prison sentence (British).
• Bent Corrupt; criminal; dishonest.
• Leg it To run away quickly.
• Do a runner To leave suddenly without paying; to escape.
• Up the creek In serious trouble.
• Fit-up To frame someone for a crime they didn't commit.
• Stitch-up A conspiracy to frame someone or fix an outcome.
• Get away with murder To escape punishment for bad behavior.
• Scot-free Without any punishment or negative consequences.
• Throw the book at To give the maximum punishment.
• Do a bunk To run away or escape, especially to avoid trouble.
• Clean getaway A successful escape without being caught or leaving evidence.
• Lay low To hide or keep a low profile to avoid detection.
• Inside job A crime committed with help from someone within the organization.
• Fall guy Someone who takes the blame for others.
• Slippery customer Someone who is evasive or difficult to pin down.
• On the lam On the run from the police or authorities.
• Cop out To avoid responsibility or take the easy way out.
• Take the rap To accept blame or punishment, especially for someone else.
• In cahoots Working together secretly, often for dishonest purposes.
• Skullduggery Underhanded dealing, trickery, or dishonest behaviour.
• Dob in To inform on someone; to report them to authorities.
• Blag To steal or obtain through trickery; also an armed robbery.
• Collared Caught or arrested; grabbed by the collar.
• Hook, line, and sinker Completely and totally; entirely deceived.
• Fingered Identified or named as a criminal; pointed out to authorities.
• Crooked Dishonest, corrupt, or involved in crime.
• Clean as a whistle Completely innocent; free from guilt or wrongdoing.
• The clink Prison or jail.
• Roughed up Beaten up or physically intimidated.
• Shakedown Extortion; a thorough search; or an initial test.
• tea leaf thief
• scarper run away
• fitted up framed for a crime
• stitched up tricked or framed
• inside in prison
• bird prison sentence
• stretch prison sentence
• clink prison
• slammer prison
• collar arrest / to arrest someone
• feel someone's collar to arrest someone
• form criminal record
• rap sheet criminal record
• on the take accepting bribes
• racket illegal scheme or corrupt enterprise
• scam fraud or swindle
• con trick or swindle / convict
• bang up lock up in prison cell
• suss to figure out / suspicious