CATCH RED-HANDED: The dog was caught red-handed stealing sausages from the table.
Caught in the act of doing something wrong (red=blood)
ON THE RUN: The fugitive was on the run for hours before the police found him.
Escaping and evading the police
BEHIND BARS: The citizens are sleeping peacefully now that the serial killer is behind bars.
In prison
BITE THE BULLET: He had to bite the bullet and admit to cheating on the test.
Face something difficult or unpleasant after avoiding it
TAKE THE FALL: Even though the entire group of teens vandalized the building, only one of them took the fall.
Take/accept blame for doing something someone else did
GET AWAY WITH: You can try to forge your mom's signature if you want, but you won't get away with it.
Escape without being caught or punished
INSIDE JOB: Some people believe that September 11 was an inside job, even though we know it was Al Qaeda.
A crime committed by someone within the organization affected
ABOVE THE LAW: He thinks he's above the law just because he's the President of the United States.
The rules don't apply to you
UNDER THE TABLE: Since she can't legally work in Spain, she gets paid under the table for babysitting.
Secretly, unofficially
DO TIME: Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Serve time in prison
LET OFF THE HOOK: The police let the teen off the hook since it was his first minor offense.
Not punish someone
HOT ON THE TRAIL: Detectives haven't found the thief yet, but they're hot on the trail.
Close to finding someone
A STEAL: 20€ for those brand-new sneakers?! What a steal!
A bargain, a great price
PARTNER IN CRIME: I never go anywhere without my best friend! She's my partner in crime.
Best friends who do everything together
A SLAP ON THE WRIST: When Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars, people were surprised when he merely received a slap on the wrist.
A very small punishment (often verbal)
GET AWAY WITH MURDER: That student gets away with murder because his mother is the principal.
Does whatever he wants without consequences
