Crime
A diamond in the rough (a.k.a rough diamond )
Meaning
A person or thing having good underlying qualities while appearing to be coarse and unpolished.
Examples
He’d been in jail several times for fraud but when he found my lost wallet he returned it. A rough diamond if there ever was one.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom.
Where is it used?
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How the idiom originated
Date rape
Meaning
The rape by a man of his partner on a date.
Examples
There’s been so many stories of date rape in the news lately that Suzy arranged to meet her date in a busy pub.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 20th century. Previously referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’.
Where is it used?
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Fell off the back of a lorry
Meaning
A coy reference to an item that has been stolen.
Examples
That iPad I just bought in the pub was really cheap. Best not to ask me where it came from. Let’s just say it fell off the back of a lorry.
Where did it originate?
Britain, mid/late 20th century. The USA has a ‘fell off the back of a truck’ variant.
Where is it used?
Britain.
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In cahoots with
Meaning
To be in a partnership with, often for unscrupulous purposes.
Examples
I saw the pickpocket give Jack the watch he’d stolen. Jack later claimed that he didn’t know him but it seems obvious that they were in cahoots.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 19th century.
Where is it used?
Hear the idiom spoken
Inside job
Meaning
A crime committed by or with the help of someone living or working in the place that it took place.
Examples
Only the staff in the security department knew the safe’s combination and it wasn’t forced open. It had to be an inside job.
Where did it originate?
Britain, early 20th century.
Where is it used?
Hear the idiom spoken
No saint
Meaning
Someone who might claim to be of good behaviour but has in fact a sordid past.
Examples
She was critical of those girls in short skirts but she’s no saint herself I can tell you.
Where is it used?
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Tea leaf
Meaning
Cockney rhyming slang for thief.
Examples
Just be careful to keep your purse safe when you go down to the market – there are plenty of tea leaves ready to steal it.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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