CATCH RED-HANDED: The dog was caught red-handed stealing sausages from the table.
Caught in the act of doing something wrong (red=blood)
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
DO TIME: Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Serve time in prison
STICKY FINGERS: Be careful with your personal items around him; he's known for having sticky fingers.
Likely to steal things
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)
IN HOT WATER: James is in hot water after lying to his teacher.
In trouble
SPREE: His killing spree lasted approximately one week, with five victims total.
A short period of excessive and impulsive behavior
WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: Beware of Mr. Briggs. He seems friendly, but he's a wolf in sheep's clothing
A bad/dangerous person who pretends to be innocent and kind
PARTNER IN CRIME: I never go anywhere without my best friend! She's my partner in crime.
Best friends who do everything together
COME CLEAN: Mom already knows someone broke the vase, so why don't you just come clean and tell her?
Confess
BEHIND BARS: The citizens are sleeping peacefully now that the serial killer is behind bars.
In prison
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
ON THE RUN: The fugitive was on the run for hours before the police found him.
Escaping and evading the police
UNDER THE TABLE: Since she can't legally work in Spain, she gets paid under the table for babysitting.
Secretly, unofficially
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
IN COLD BLOOD: The woman's death wasn't an accident -- she was murdered in cold blood!
Brutally and without emotion or empathy
GET AWAY WITH MURDER: That student gets away with murder because his mother is the principal.
Does whatever he wants without consequences
LET OFF THE HOOK: The police let the teen off the hook since it was his first minor offense.
Not punish someone
IN THE CLEAR: You watch out for police while I break the window, and you tell me if we're in the clear.
Safe from danger/being caught
FACE THE MUSIC: Allison broke the window and had to face the music when her parents came home.
Experience consequences
HOT ON THE TRAIL: Detectives haven't found the thief yet, but they're hot on the trail.
Close to finding someone
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
BITE THE BULLET: He had to bite the bullet and admit to cheating on the test.
Face something difficult or unpleasant after avoiding it
THROW SOMEONE UNDER THE BUS: The witness threw the entire company under the bus when she revealed the corruption happening inside.
Betray or sacrifice someone else to save yourself
SPILL THE BEANS: The pop star is expected to spill the beans on all her past relationships in her upcoming autobiography.
Reveal information
SKELETON IN THE CLOSET: People assume she has a perfect past, but she actually has a few skeletons in her closet.
A secret past that could be dangerous if revealed
POINT THE FINGER: The police interviewed several suspects but couldn't point the finger at any of them.
Accuse, blame
THICK AS THIEVES: I've known my best friend for almost 20 years, and we're thick as thieves.
Having a very close relationship and sharing each other's secrets
SWEEP UNDER THE RUG: The political party swept its candidate's unethical behavior under the rug while preparing for the election.
Hide something in hopes that no one will notice
A STEAL: 20€ for those brand-new sneakers?! What a steal!
A bargain, a great price
BLOW THE WHISTLE: The CEO was shocked when one of his employees blew the whistle and uncovered all of his financial crimes.
Report a crime to the authorities
DINE AND DASH: The teenagers were banned from the restaurant after a dine-and-dash.
Leave a restaurant without paying
COVER TRACKS: If we cover our tracks, the police will never find us.
Hide evidence
HIT AND RUN: I was almost killed by a hit-and-run car during the blackout.
Crashing your car and escaping without telling anyone