take a criminal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a criminal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is discussing the act of apprehending or accepting a criminal, often in a legal or law enforcement scenario. Example: "The police were instructed to take a criminal into custody after the chase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

They could be called on at any moment to take a criminal case, unpaid.

The Guardian

But then Mr Correa is a man whose sensitivity to criticism led him to take a criminal libel case against a newspaper and to place legislative curbs on the media.

The Economist

In an academic paper, the team at Newcastle University claimed that working out the card number, expiry date and security code of any Visa credit or debit card could take a criminal "as little as six seconds" and involved nothing more than guesswork.

The Guardian - Tech

Mrs May's proposal follows comments made by Prime Minister David Cameron in April, when he promised the government would take a "really concerted approach to crush it, to stamp it out and... take a criminal approach to those who are the traffickers".

BBC

Given that it would take a criminal some amount of time alone with the gun to disable any lock, there are two scenarios where such a smart gun would be better than a regular gun: 1) when control of the weapon has been suddenly wrested from its owner, and 2) when a child gets hold of a gun.

TechCrunch

It doesn't take a criminal genius to see the profit potential.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Kearns was dating a man taking a criminal justice course when she picked up one of his textbooks and decided that crime and policy were more her interest than high school sports.

The New York Times

Despite taking a criminal justice perspective – Bugliosi's no stoned slacker and has no time for them either – it's the most complete account of what actually happened in the Tate/LaBianca houses when members of the Manson Family butchered seven people, supposedly on Manson's orders, on two consecutive nights, including the pregnant actress Sharon Tate.

The Guardian

According to Ms Keitch the panel is also cheaper: "The basic cost for police and the CPS of taking a criminal damage case through court is £637, through the panel it costs £139".

BBC

I would love to believe that the writers listen to me and would help me get back in the precinct but … Alexis is taking a criminal justice class at school and it is leading her down that path of being a detective again.

Huffington Post

It would take a separate criminal act (stealing or illegally accessing/hacking your phone/computer) to even get to the point where a perpetrator could potentially do something with the data.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "take a criminal", ensure that the context clearly indicates the act of apprehending, accepting responsibility for, or processing the criminal within a legal or justice system framework.

Common error

Avoid using "take a criminal" when you mean to describe the crime they committed. "Take" refers to the act of apprehending or dealing with someone, not describing their actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a criminal" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "take" is the main verb and "a criminal" acts as the direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates the act of apprehending or dealing with someone who has committed a crime. The examples show its use in describing law enforcement actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take a criminal" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of apprehending or dealing with an individual involved in criminal activity. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is considered correct and appears mostly in news and media contexts. While not exceptionally common, its meaning is clear. Related phrases include "apprehend a criminal" and "arrest a criminal", offering nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, ensure that the context relates to legal or law enforcement procedures. It's important to avoid using "take a criminal" when describing the crimes committed, as the phrase focuses on the action taken towards the criminal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend a criminal

Focuses specifically on the act of catching or arresting a criminal.

arrest a criminal

Highlights the formal process of legal detention.

capture a criminal

Emphasizes the act of gaining control over a criminal, often after a pursuit.

detain a criminal

Refers to holding a criminal in custody, usually for investigation.

prosecute a criminal

Focuses on the legal process of bringing a criminal to trial.

incarcerate a criminal

Emphasizes the act of imprisoning a criminal as punishment.

bring a criminal to justice

Highlights the overall process of ensuring a criminal faces legal consequences.

deal with a criminal

A broader term that encompasses various actions taken in response to criminal behavior.

handle a criminal

Similar to 'deal with', but may imply a more direct or hands-on approach.

process a criminal

Focuses on the administrative and procedural steps involved in the legal system.

FAQs

What does "take a criminal" mean?

The phrase "take a criminal" generally refers to the act of apprehending, capturing, or otherwise taking custody of an individual who has committed a crime. It can also refer to accepting a criminal case or investigation.

What can I say instead of "take a criminal"?

You can use alternatives like "apprehend a criminal", "arrest a criminal", or "capture a criminal" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "take a criminal"?

This phrase is appropriate in legal, law enforcement, or journalistic contexts when describing the actions of police, lawyers, or other authorities in dealing with individuals accused or convicted of crimes.

Is "taking a criminal" the same as "take a criminal"?

The phrase "taking a criminal" often implies a continuous or ongoing action, such as "taking a criminal justice course", while "take a criminal" refers to a specific action like apprehending someone.