Whether we are a lawyer or not, there is a level of legal vocabulary which is at it’s least, useful; if not surprising!

 

 

What is the difference between robbery, theft , mugging, looting or a burglary?  

 

Robbery

 

A robbery is an act where force or the threat of force is used against someone.

Verb: To rob

Perpetrator (person who commits the crime): Robber

A robber robbed people on this street yesterday!

 

Theft

 

A theft is the taking taking of something from another but does not involve force.

Verb: To steal

Perpetrator: Thief

A thief stole the statue form outside the library!

 

Mugging

 

 

A mugging takes place when someone attacks someone and takes their money.

Verb: To mug

Perpetrator: Mugger

Police are looking for a mugger who mugged someone in the park.

 

Looting

 

 

Looting often occurs at a time of civil unrest. It involves breaking of shop windows and people stealing items.

Verb: To loot

Perpetrator: Looter

The peaceful demonstration changed when it got dark as looters started looting shops. 

 

Burglary

 

When someone forces entry into premises with force for example breaking a window or door this is a burglary.

Verb: To burgle

Perpetrator: Burglar

We were burgled yesterday. The burglar got in through the roof!

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other useful vocabulary

 

broad daylight

If something happens in ‘broad daylight’, it happens in an obvious way.

 

Unbelievable, someone stole my car in broad daylight. How did they mange that? I cannot believe the audacity.

 

under our noses

 

When something should be easily noticed or seen but it isn’t.

His bank account was emptied under is nose. Whilst he checks his account every day, he did not see the suspicious activity.

 

blink of an eye

When something happens very quickly.

I went into the shop to get a newspaper and at the blink of an eye, it was gone. I must of been only 2 minutes at the most!

In the blink of an eye, he was gone; never to be seen again.

Everything was fine but next day, I lost my house and job. In the blink of an eye my life changed, it will never be the same again.

 

skin of our teeth

To succeed in a minimal way.

They chased us down the street but where we hid in a doorway. We got away by the skin of our teeth. 

I was so ill, I survived by the skin of my teeth.

I thought I was going to lose my job but by the skin of my teeth, my boss got distracted and forgot to come and speak to me before she went on holiday.

 

pickpocket

This is someone who manages to secretly remove items from people’s pockets, possibly in the street or on pubic transport.

Beware of pickpockets! There are reports of people being pick-pocketed in the market.  

My favourite football team have lost there number one player to our rivals, I can’t believe it,; we were ‘pick-pocketed’! 

 

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Are there any other crimes of expressions that you can think of?

Can you think of any circumstances where idioms are used away from crime?