This lesson trains 25 C2 idioms on Crime, Law & Rules. Idioms signal fluency when used naturally — forcing them into every sentence hurts your score. Practise in the runner first, then revisit every expression in the glossary. Review mode after completion shows how each idiom fits its context.
sweep [something] under the carpet
Hide a problem instead of dealing with it.
During a legal-studies class, the facilitator introduced “sweep [something] under the carpet”, an expression meaning “Hide a problem instead of dealing with it”.
hard-and-fast rules
Strict rules that allow no exceptions.
In a courtroom discussion, participants used “hard-and-fast rules” to communicate this idea: “Strict rules that allow no exceptions”.
fall into line
Start obeying rules or following others.
In a debate about rules and punishment, “fall into line” was explained as an expression meaning “Start obeying rules or following others”.
send [someone] packing
Tell someone to leave.
In a conversation about crime and justice, participants used “send [someone] packing” to communicate this idea: “Tell someone to leave”.
an inside job
A crime committed by someone within an organisation.
In a courtroom discussion, “an inside job” was explained as an expression meaning “A crime committed by someone within an organisation”.
on the straight and narrow
Behaving honestly and morally.
While taking part in a courtroom discussion, the speaker highlighted “on the straight and narrow”, which means “Behaving honestly and morally”.
be fresh out of [something]
Have just used or sold all of something.
While taking part in a debate about rules and punishment, the speaker highlighted “be fresh out of [something]”, which means “Have just used or sold all of something”.
do time
Spend time in prison.
During a conversation about crime and justice, the facilitator introduced “do time”, an expression meaning “Spend time in prison”.
do a stretch
Serve a prison sentence.
During a courtroom discussion, the trainer referred to “do a stretch”, a useful expression for the idea “Serve a prison sentence”.
come to a standstill
Stop completely.
In a legal-studies class, participants used “come to a standstill” to communicate this idea: “Stop completely”.
a black mark
A record of bad behaviour that damages someone's reputation.
During a legal-studies class, the facilitator introduced “a black mark”, an expression meaning “A record of bad behaviour that damages someone's reputation”.
the long arm of the law
The police or law enforcement.
In a courtroom discussion, “the long arm of the law” was explained as an expression meaning “The police or law enforcement”.
have your hand in the till
Steal money from the business you work for.
During a conversation about crime and justice, the trainer referred to “have your hand in the till”, a useful expression for the idea “Steal money from the business you work for”.
as quiet as a mouse
Extremely quiet.
During a legal-studies class, the trainer referred to “as quiet as a mouse”, a useful expression for the idea “Extremely quiet”.
steal the show
Get the most attention and praise.
During a debate about rules and punishment, the trainer referred to “steal the show”, a useful expression for the idea “Get the most attention and praise”.
bare-faced lies
Very obvious lies.
During a courtroom discussion, the facilitator introduced “bare-faced lies”, an expression meaning “Very obvious lies”.
under the counter
Secretly and illegally.
During a legal-studies class, the trainer referred to “under the counter”, a useful expression for the idea “Secretly and illegally”.
it does exactly what it says on the tin
It performs exactly as claimed.
During a debate about rules and punishment, the facilitator introduced “it does exactly what it says on the tin”, an expression meaning “It performs exactly as claimed”.
be back to square one
Have to start again after a failed attempt.
In a conversation about crime and justice, “be back to square one” was explained as an expression meaning “Have to start again after a failed attempt”.
as clear as crystal
Very clear.
While taking part in a conversation about crime and justice, the speaker highlighted “as clear as crystal”, which means “Very clear”.
as clear as mud
Very unclear.
In a debate about rules and punishment, participants used “as clear as mud” to communicate this idea: “Very unclear”.
under cover of darkness
Hidden by the darkness of night.
In a debate about rules and punishment, participants used “under cover of darkness” to communicate this idea: “Hidden by the darkness of night”.
throw the book at
Punish someone as severely as possible.
While taking part in a conversation about crime and justice, the speaker highlighted “throw the book at”, which means “Punish someone as severely as possible”.
it will all end in tears
It will end badly.
In a legal-studies class, “it will all end in tears” was explained as an expression meaning “It will end badly”.
fall into the wrong hands
Be obtained by people who may misuse it.
While taking part in a legal-studies class, the speaker highlighted “fall into the wrong hands”, which means “Be obtained by people who may misuse it”.