Criminal Slang

noun a specialized vocabulary or set of idiomatic expressions used by a particular group of people

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The linguist studied the argot of a particular subculture.
• He quickly picked up the argot of his new group of friends.
• She used so much argot in her speech that it was hard to understand her.
• The argot of Wall Street can be confusing to those not in the finance industry.

noun a person who is skilled in deception or trickery, especially in avoiding capture

adjective characterized by skillful deception or trickery

• The Artful Dodger was a character in Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist.
• I heard that guy is a real Artful Dodger when it comes to getting out of trouble.
• That Artful Dodger always knows how to weasel his way out of things.
• She's like the Artful Dodger of the office, always finding a way to avoid extra work.

noun an artist who specializes in bunco-related activities

• The authorities were able to apprehend the bunco artist before he could scam any more innocent victims.
• I heard that Joe's cousin is a real bunco artist, always trying to pull a fast one on people.
• Watch out for that bunco artist, he's been known to con people out of their money.
• In the world of politics, some may consider a skilled lobbyist to be a bunco artist, manipulating situations for personal gain.

noun a slang term for a criminal or a convict

• The company's annual report highlighted the increase in sales due to their new marketing strategy.
• I heard from a friend that sales are up because of the new marketing plan.
• Word on the street is that sales are booming thanks to the new marketing scheme.
• The company's profits soared like a rocket after implementing the new marketing tactics.

verb to hide or keep something secret

adjective kept hidden or out of sight

• The spy had a concealed weapon hidden in his jacket.
• She always keeps her feelings concealed from others.
• The thief had a concealed stash of stolen goods in his hideout.
• His true intentions were concealed behind a mask of friendliness.

noun the lair of a wild animal

• The den of the wild animals was carefully studied by the researchers.
• Let's hang out at my den tonight, it's cozy and quiet.
• I heard there's a cool den down by the river where everyone goes to chill.
• His office was like a den, cluttered with papers and books.

noun a deceitful act or betrayal

verb to deceive or betray someone

• The spy was caught in a double cross by the enemy agents.
• I can't believe he double crossed his best friend like that.
• She pulled a major double cross on her business partner.
• His betrayal felt like a double cross to everyone who trusted him.

noun a person who is skilled at solving problems or making arrangements, typically in a professional capacity

• The fixer was able to negotiate a deal that satisfied both parties.
• My friend is a real fixer when it comes to solving problems.
• He's known as the fixer around here because he can always find a solution.
• She was like a fixer, piecing together the broken parts of their relationship.

noun a person who engages in crime and violence; a thug or gangster

• The police arrested a suspected hoodlum in connection with the robbery.
• I heard that some hoodlum broke into the old warehouse last night.
• That hoodlum is always causing trouble in the neighborhood.
• The darkness of the night seemed to cloak the city in a shroud of hoodlums.

noun A noun is not applicable for 'in cahoots' as it is a phrase rather than a single word.

adverb In this case, 'in cahoots' functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective.

• The two companies were found to be in cahoots with each other, engaging in anti-competitive practices.
• I think those two are in cahoots, they always seem to be up to something together.
• I heard those two are in cahoots, planning something shady behind everyone's back.
• The cat and the mouse were in cahoots, working together to outsmart the dog.

verb to keep oneself or someone else hidden or out of sight, especially in order to avoid being found or noticed

• After the scandal, it would be wise for him to lay low and avoid the public eye.
• I think it's best for us to lay low for a while until things cool down.
• Let's lay low and chill at home tonight instead of going out.
• Sometimes it's better to lay low and observe before making any big decisions.

noun a type of sports equipment used in games like tennis or badminton

• The tennis player used a high-quality racket during the match.
• I borrowed my friend's racket for the game.
• That new racket is sick!
• The politician was accused of running a corrupt racket within the government.

noun a dishonest scheme, trick, or activity, especially one intended to make money

verb to make a loud and disturbing noise

• The police were able to dismantle the illegal gambling rackets operating in the city.
• I heard that there are some shady rackets going on in that neighborhood.
• The mob boss was running some serious rackets in the city.
• The company's unethical business practices were seen as a racket by many.

noun a worthless or contemptible person

• The company fired the employee for being involved in unethical practices, labeling him as scum.
• I can't believe that scum tried to cheat his way through the exam.
• Don't trust that scum, he's always up to no good.
• The polluted river was described as a breeding ground for environmental scum.

noun a quick and sudden grasp or grab

verb to quickly seize or grab something

• The thief attempted to snatch the purse from the woman's hand.
• Did you see that guy try to snatch the last cookie?
• I can't believe he tried to snatch my phone!
• The team managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final moments of the game.

noun a person who provides information to the police or other authorities, often in exchange for special treatment or immunity

• The police used a stool pigeon to gather information about the criminal organization.
• I heard that Tommy is a stool pigeon for the boss, always telling him what we're up to.
• Don't trust Joey, he's a stool pigeon and will rat you out in a heartbeat.
• In the world of politics, it's common for politicians to use stool pigeons to leak information to the press.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word used before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship with other words in a sentence

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• The magician's ability to turn the trick left the audience in awe.
• I bet he can turn the trick and impress everyone at the party.
• She's got the skills to turn the trick like no one else.
• His quick thinking helped him turn the trick and win the negotiation.

noun a type of car that has been created by combining the front half of one car with the back half of another

verb to create a 'cut and shut' car by combining parts of two different cars

• The car was found to be a cut and shut vehicle, made from two different cars welded together.
• I heard that car was a cut and shut job, put together from two different cars.
• That car is a total cut and shut, it's a real mess.
• The project was a cut and shut job, pieced together from various sources to create a cohesive whole.

noun the techniques and skills used in a particular trade or profession

• The spy's success in gathering intelligence was attributed to his impeccable tradecraft.
• She learned the tradecraft of baking from her grandmother.
• The hacker's tradecraft was top-notch, allowing them to breach even the most secure systems.
• Mastering the tradecraft of negotiation is essential for success in business.

noun a person who uses a lasso or lariat to rope livestock or other objects

• The roper skillfully lassoed the runaway calf.
• The roper caught the calf with his lasso.
• The roper wrangled the calf with his rope.
• She was a skilled roper when it came to managing difficult situations.

noun a person who is regarded as worthless or good-for-nothing

• The company decided to terminate the employment of the no-goodnik who was consistently underperforming.
• I heard that no-goodnik is always causing trouble at the office.
• That no-goodnik is up to no good again.
• His reputation as a no-goodnik preceded him wherever he went.