pack of thieves

USAGE SUMMARY

'pack of thieves' is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to a group of people who cooperate in criminal activity. For example, "The police finally caught up to the pack of thieves who had been terrorizing the city for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

How did they know that the council was not a pack of thieves, the brigade demanded?

The New York Times

It did quite well and well, all producers are just a pack of thieves aren't they?

The Guardian - Film

In a crime called the robbery of the century by French news media, a pack of thieves, some posing as women and at least one with a hand grenade, robbed the Harry Winston jewelry store in Paris of roughly $110 million worth of diamonds, rings and watches.

The New York Times

President Jorge Batlle has made an unplanned, emergency trip to Buenos Aires to apologize to his Argentine counterpart, Eduardo Duhalde, for remarks broadcast on Monday in which Mr. Batlle, left, called Argentina's politicians "a pack of thieves, from the first to the last".

The New York Times

And beware, for anyone who can't play Fire Emblem in case you get too invested in your characters: your pack of thieves and ne'er-do-wellers can permanently die.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The raggedy tent city, with its piles of garbage, puddles of standing water, swarms of mosquitoes, packs of thieves and an increasingly restive population, sits in the front yard of the smashed National Palace.

The New York Times

The proud towers of Wall Street have fallen, disgorging packs of thieves and fraudsters.

Huffington Post

What else is good for both opening rock-hard coconuts and defending yourself from packs of thieving monkeys?

Vice

He also famously lambasted the Occupy Wall Street movement on his blog as "nothing but a pack of louts, thieves and rapists".

Independent

After winning the title of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn for two years running, the block was hit by a roving pack of plant thieves last year.

The New York Times

"Occupy" is nothing but a pack of louts, thieves, and rapists, an unruly mob, fed by Woodstock-era nostalgia and putrid false righteousness.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pack of thieves", consider the context. It's suitable for describing a group actively engaged in theft or corruption, but may not be appropriate for merely suspected individuals. Opt for more neutral language when there's no proof.

Common error

Avoid using "pack of thieves" in formal or professional writing where a more objective and less emotionally charged term is expected. Consider alternatives like "organized crime group" or "criminal enterprise".

Linguistic Context

"Pack of thieves" functions primarily as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its use to identify and describe a group involved in thievery, as highlighted in the provided examples where it characterizes corrupt councils or organized criminals. This phrase acts as a subject complement or object in sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

12.5%

Science

12.5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pack of thieves" is a noun phrase used to describe a group engaged in dishonest or criminal activities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it typically carries a negative connotation, expressing disapproval or condemnation. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, though it's generally more suited to neutral or informal registers. When more formality is required, alternatives like "criminal organization" or "group of criminals" may be more appropriate. Use "pack of thieves" judiciously to ensure your tone aligns with your intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gang of robbers

Replaces "pack" with "gang", emphasizing organized crime and direct acts of robbery.

group of swindlers

Substitutes "thieves" with "swindlers", focusing on deceit and fraud rather than direct theft.

band of crooks

Uses "band" instead of "pack" and "crooks" in place of "thieves", providing a more informal feel.

ring of racketeers

Replaces "thieves" with "racketeers", highlighting organized crime involving extortion and illegal business practices.

clique of fraudsters

Replaces "pack of thieves" with "clique of fraudsters" suggesting an exclusive group that obtains money or property by deception.

cabal of embezzlers

Emphasizes the element of betrayal and misappropriation of funds by using "cabal of embezzlers".

crew of burglars

Highlights breaking and entering by replacing with "crew of burglars".

league of pilferers

Focuses on petty theft by replacing "thieves" with "pilferers".

posse of looters

Suggests widespread plundering and destruction with the term "posse of looters".

herd of brigands

Replaces "pack of thieves" with "herd of brigands", invoking a sense of outlawry and banditry, often in a historical or romanticized context.

FAQs

How can I use "pack of thieves" in a sentence?

You can use "pack of thieves" to describe a group of people working together to commit thefts, as in, "The mayor accused the council of being a "pack of thieves" after the audit revealed massive corruption".

What's a less inflammatory way to say "pack of thieves"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "criminal organization", "group of criminals", or "organized crime ring" to convey a similar meaning without the strong negative connotation.

Is "pack of thieves" an idiom?

While not a formal idiom, "pack of thieves" is a common expression used figuratively to describe a group of people perceived as dishonest or corrupt, acting in concert for illegal gain.

What words collocate with "pack of thieves"?

Common collocations include verbs such as "accuse", "describe", or "label", and adjectives indicating scale or impact, such as "notorious", "dangerous", or "small-time".