crook down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crook down" is not correct and does not appear to be a standard expression in written English.
It may be intended to convey a physical action, but without context, it is unclear how it should be used. Example: "He had to crook down to pick up the fallen object."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Box is nearing retirement, and before he settles down to civilian life, he just wants to send one last crook down.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Girl" manages to invoke both the Beach Boys and the apocalypse; the infinitely hummable chorus ("my summer girl") sounds like it was written while lolling in the sunset on a small boat, but the spring-break ambience dissipates in the verses ("Walking crooked down the beach, she spits on the sand where their bones are bleaching").

The New Yorker

Hull thought they had scored again five minutes before half-time when centre Crooks touched down a Holdsworth kick.

BBC

Those crooks down the road would swipe anything".

The New Yorker

OUR ragged band of bike riders pedaled down Crooked Lane in search of a rest stop.

The New York Times - Travel

According to the CVG preview, gunned down crooks return as cops to take revenge on their back-stabbing cohorts - a neat little wrinkle on an already intriguing premise.

The Guardian - Tech

Castleford finished a well-beaten side but wrapped up the scoring in the final minute when Joel Monaghan flung the ball inside as he was being pushed into touch for Crooks to touch down and Gale landed the touchline conversion.

The Guardian - Sport

"American Hustle" is near the hinge: it unfolds the day-to-day, intimate, and romantic doings that went on behind the scenes and beneath the headlines of the real-life Abscam operation of 1978, focussing on the small-time crooks who brought down relatively big-time politicians (a mayor and a handful of Congressmen).

The New Yorker

But Wilson missed a penalty to win it after Matty Crooks had brought down Ellison in the area.

BBC

Many crooks have gone down because they failed to realize they were on camera.

Huffington Post

Their flip of Perth trio Crooked Colours' "Come Down" draws parallels to the best that Gesaffelstein and the Bromance crew have to offer, and is a brooding beast of a club tune.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the action of lowering oneself, use more common and grammatically accepted phrases like "bend down" or "stoop down" instead of "crook down".

Common error

Avoid using "crook down" when intending to convey the act of apprehending a criminal. It's not a standard idiom and may be misunderstood. Opt for phrases like "take down a "crook"" or "bring down a "criminal"" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crook down" does not have a clearly defined grammatical function in standard English. While it might be interpreted literally in certain contexts, Ludwig indicates it's not a standard expression. The provided examples show varied uses, but none establish a consistent grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crook down" is not a standard or grammatically correct English expression. As Ludwig indicates, it's not a widely recognized phrase. While it might be used to describe a physical action of bending or, in some contexts, related to apprehending criminals, it is best to avoid it in favor of clearer and more accepted alternatives. Standard alternatives include phrases like "bend down", "stoop down", or, when referring to criminals, "take down a "crook"" or "apprehend a "criminal"". Overall, the use of "crook down" can lead to misunderstanding, so sticking with established phrases is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bend down

This phrase describes a physical action of lowering the body, similar to a literal interpretation of "crook down".

stoop down

Similar to "bend down", "stoop down" emphasizes the act of lowering oneself, often to pick something up.

bring down a criminal

This phrase focuses on the action of apprehending or defeating a criminal, aligning with the context of catching "crooks".

take down a crook

Closely related to the previous phrase, it emphasizes the act of subduing or capturing a criminal.

apprehend a crook

This alternative emphasizes the act of legally detaining a criminal.

capture a crook

This phrase focuses on the action of successfully seizing a criminal.

nab a crook

An informal alternative that describes the act of catching a criminal.

collar a crook

A colloquial term for apprehending a criminal, suggesting a physical restraint.

seize a crook

Similar to "capture", this emphasizes the act of taking possession of a criminal.

subdue a crook

This alternative focuses on the act of overpowering and controlling a criminal.

FAQs

What does "crook down" mean?

The phrase "crook down" is not a standard English expression. It might be interpreted as bending down, but it's not a common or grammatically correct usage.

How can I use "crook" and "down" in a sentence separately?

You can use "crook" to refer to a criminal and "down" to indicate direction or position, for example: "The police are trying to take the "crook" down."

What is a better way to say "crook down" when referring to criminals?

Instead of "crook down", you could say "take down a "criminal"", "bring down a "wrongdoer"", or "apprehend a "offender"".

Is it correct to use "crook" as a verb?

No, "crook" is primarily a noun referring to a criminal or a bent object. It is not typically used as a verb in standard English.