catch a crook

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch a crook" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to crime, law enforcement, or storytelling, typically referring to the act of apprehending a criminal. Example: "The detective worked tirelessly to catch a crook who had been terrorizing the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Hand over the papers to help catch a crook.

The Guardian

One of the ablest women in the business roped a wife-poisoner, destroyed the evidence and married him, another woman detective, sent out to catch a crook, caught him and led him to the altar, another lady detective spoiled an elaborate political investigation at Pittsburgh by becoming nervous and irrelevantly fired five shots at a hotel porter.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If I catch any crook in baseball, the rest of his life is going to be a pretty hot one.

Wikipedia

Others never gesture until they see a cab they are sure to catch and then crook an elbow as if it was inevitable.

The New York Times

"They're playing catch the crook".

The New York Times

Tsiskaridze dismissed the notion that he was involved in any way with the crime: "If you like detective stories, then you know that he who shouts loudest to catch the crook is the crook".

The New Yorker

The trio of social media-savvy crooks fled the scene -- one in the moving truck -- but were caught a short time later, the Press-Enterprise reports.

Huffington Post

He had been so furious at having his car repeatedly broken into that he contemplated sleeping in it with a weapon so he could catch the next crook in the act and attack him.

The New York Times - Magazine

Making every American give a DNA sample to the F.B.I. would also help the police catch more crooks, he said: "But in a free society you have to make tradeoffs, and law enforcement is not the only mission in our society".

The New York Times

Everyone will now have a gold standard for what to do and how to do it in order to have the best chance to catch the crooks.

The Guardian

As Mr Zondo found, pub brawls quickly become fatal.Too rarely do the police catch the crooks: it was typical that no witnesses in the busy shebeen would talk about Mr Zondo's death.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about law enforcement or crime, use "catch a crook" to convey the act of apprehending someone involved in illegal activities. It is suitable for news reports, articles, and general discussions about justice.

Common error

Avoid using "catch a crook" in highly formal or academic writing. While acceptable in news and general contexts, opt for more professional alternatives like "apprehend a criminal" or "bring a perpetrator to justice" in formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a crook" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "catch" is the verb indicating the action of apprehending, and "a crook" is the object, representing the person being apprehended. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples from news and media.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catch a crook" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes the act of apprehending a criminal. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples, indicates that it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. While effective for general communication, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives like "apprehend a criminal" in academic or legal settings. The expert rating of 4.5 reflects the phrase's consistent usage and the authoritative nature of its sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend a criminal

Formal alternative using 'apprehend' instead of 'catch'.

capture an offender

Similar to 'apprehend a criminal' but with a slightly different connotation.

capture a thief

Replaces 'crook' with 'thief', focusing on theft-related crime.

catch a perpetrator

A more formal and general term for someone who commits a crime.

nab a wrongdoer

Uses 'nab' as a more informal synonym for 'catch' and 'wrongdoer' for 'crook'.

collar a felon

Informal, using slang term 'collar' for catch and 'felon' for crook.

bring a criminal to justice

Focuses on the legal process following the apprehension.

bust a criminal

Very informal, using 'bust' as a slang term for 'catch'.

expose a fraudster

Specifically targets those committing fraud.

unmask a villain

More dramatic and often used in fictional contexts.

FAQs

What does "catch a crook" mean?

The phrase "catch a crook" means to apprehend or capture someone who is engaged in criminal activities. It implies bringing a criminal to justice or preventing them from committing further crimes.

What can I say instead of "catch a crook"?

You can use alternatives like "apprehend a criminal", "capture a thief", or "bring a criminal to justice" depending on the context.

Is "catch a crook" a formal expression?

No, "catch a crook" is not considered a formal expression. It's more appropriate for news reports, general articles, or informal discussions. For formal contexts, consider using "apprehend a criminal" or similar alternatives.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "catch a crook"?

It is appropriate to use "catch a crook" in news articles, blog posts, general discussions about crime and law enforcement, and in fictional narratives where the tone is not overly formal. It fits well when describing the actions of police, detectives, or vigilantes.