break into
Meaning: To enter a building illegally, usually by force. Examples: “Burglars broke into our house while we were away.” “Someone broke into my car and stole the radio.”
break in
Meaning: To force entry into a building. Examples: “Thieves broke in through the back window.” “The alarm went off when they tried to break in.”
get away with
Meaning: To commit a crime without being caught or punished. Examples: “The thieves got away with over $1 million.” “He thinks he can get away with cheating on his taxes.”
get away
Meaning: To escape from someone who is chasing you. Examples: “The robbers got away in a stolen car.” “The police chased him but he got away.”
make off with
Meaning: To escape with something stolen. Examples: “The burglars made off with jewelry worth $50,000.” “Someone made off with my laptop.”
run off with
Meaning: To steal something and leave; to leave with someone secretly. Examples: “The accountant ran off with the company’s money.” “She ran off with her boss.”
walk off with
Meaning: To steal something; to win easily. Examples: “Someone walked off with my bag at the party.” “She walked off with first prize.”
make away with
Meaning: To steal something and escape. Examples: “The thieves made away with paintings worth millions.” “They made away with the cash.”
hold up
Meaning: To rob a person or place using a weapon. Examples: “Two men held up the bank this afternoon.” “He was held up at gunpoint.”
stick up
Meaning: To rob using a gun (slang). Examples: “They stuck up the convenience store.” “A masked man stuck up the gas station.”
knock over
Meaning: To rob a place (informal). Examples: “They knocked over three banks in one week.” “The gang knocked over a jewelry store.”
do over (UK)
Meaning: To steal from someone; to attack or beat someone. Examples: “He got done over by some teenagers.” “They did over the old lady’s house.”
beat up
Meaning: To attack someone violently by hitting and kicking. Examples: “He was beaten up by a gang.” “They threatened to beat him up.”
rough up
Meaning: To attack someone physically. Examples: “The guards roughed up the prisoner.” “He was roughed up by thugs.”
do in (UK)
Meaning: To kill someone; to exhaust someone. Examples: “They threatened to do him in if he talked.” “That long walk has done me in.”
bump off
Meaning: To murder someone (slang). Examples: “He was bumped off by a rival gang.” “They tried to bump off the witness.”
finish off
Meaning: To kill someone who is already injured or dying. Examples: “The hunter finished off the wounded animal.” “They finished him off with a single shot.”
dispose of
Meaning: To get rid of someone by killing them. Examples: “The body was never found; they disposed of it somehow.” “He disposed of anyone who got in his way.”
cover up
Meaning: To hide a crime or mistake. Examples: “The government tried to cover up the scandal.” “She covered up for her colleague.”
hush up
Meaning: To prevent the public from knowing about something dishonest. Examples: “The company tried to hush up the safety violations.” “The scandal was hushed up.”
stitch up (UK)
Meaning: To trick someone or make them appear guilty. Examples: “I was stitched up by the police.” “He claims he was stitched up by his business partner.”
fit up
Meaning: To make someone appear guilty of a crime they didn’t commit. Examples: “He was fitted up by the real criminals.” “They tried to fit me up for the robbery.”
set up
Meaning: To trick someone into seeming guilty. Examples: “He claims he was set up by the police.” “Someone set him up to take the blame.”
frame (someone)
Meaning: To make someone appear guilty of a crime. Examples: “He was framed by his business partner.” “Someone’s trying to frame me!”
