Crime is something we hear about in books, movies, and even the news. It means someone has done something wrong or broken the law. But sometimes, people don’t just say “crime.” They use special words or phrases that compare crime to other things. These comparisons are called metaphors. Metaphors help us understand ideas by linking them to things we already know.
For example, someone might say “crime is a shadow that follows” or “crime is a wildfire.” These phrases don’t mean that crime is really a shadow or a fire. They mean that crime can sneak up or spread quickly, just like those things. In this article, you’ll learn different metaphors people use to talk about crime. Each one shows something different about what crime feels like or how it can affect people and places.
Metaphors about Crime
1. Crime is a shadow
Meaning: Crime can follow people or places quietly and cause fear.
Example: That alley has a shadow of crime hanging over it. / The city felt safe, but crime was like a shadow waiting nearby.
Put Differently: Crime is always close, even if we don’t see it.
2. Crime is a storm
Meaning: Crime can come fast and cause damage.
Example: The robbery hit like a storm in our town. / After the crime, everything felt shaken.
Put Differently: Crime can cause sudden trouble, like bad weather.
3. Crime is a wildfire
Meaning: It spreads quickly and harms many things.
Example: Once crime started, it spread like wildfire. / Crime grew fast, like fire in the woods.
Put Differently: One bad act can lead to many others.
4. Crime is a trap
Meaning: It catches people and is hard to escape.
Example: He fell into a crime trap and couldn’t get out. / Crime is a trap that looks easy at first.
Put Differently: It pulls people in and is hard to leave.
5. Crime is a poison
Meaning: It harms people and places over time.
Example: Crime is a poison that hurt the whole neighborhood. / It slowly made the town worse.
Put Differently: Crime spreads harm little by little.
6. Crime is a game
Meaning: Some people treat crime like a fun challenge, even when it’s wrong.
Example: The thieves acted like crime was just a game. / He played with the rules like it was a game.
Put Differently: Some forget how serious crime really is.
7. Crime is a broken window
Meaning: One small crime can lead to bigger problems.
Example: That graffiti was just a broken window that led to more crime. / Crime started with little things.
Put Differently: Small wrongs can grow into bigger ones.
8. Crime is a wave
Meaning: It comes in large amounts and is hard to stop.
Example: The town saw a wave of crime that summer. / Crime came like waves on the beach.
Put Differently: Crime can rush in all at once.
9. Crime is a stain
Meaning: It leaves a mark that’s hard to clean.
Example: The theft left a stain on our school’s name. / Crime stained the town’s good feeling.
Put Differently: It makes things feel worse, even after it’s gone.
10. Crime is a magnet
Meaning: It attracts more crime or bad actions.
Example: That area is a magnet for trouble. / Crime pulls in more problems.
Put Differently: One crime can bring others with it.
11. Crime is a maze
Meaning: It’s confusing and hard to get out of once inside.
Example: He got lost in a crime maze and couldn’t find his way back. / Crime led him into a twisty path.
Put Differently: Once you start, it’s tough to stop.
12. Crime is a chain
Meaning: One crime links to another.
Example: The crime chain started with stealing and ended with fighting. / It was like links pulling one after another.
Put Differently: One wrong choice leads to more.
13. Crime is a mask
Meaning: It hides the truth.
Example: Crime wears a mask to cover real problems. / He used crime to hide his pain.
Put Differently: Crime keeps things secret or fake.
14. Crime is a dark cloud
Meaning: It brings sadness and fear.
Example: Crime was a dark cloud over our street. / Everyone felt worried under that cloud.
Put Differently: It made people feel scared.
15. Crime is a thief of time
Meaning: It takes away chances and a better future.
Example: Prison was a thief of time for him. / Crime stole years from her life.
Put Differently: It wastes life and time.
16. Crime is a cracked mirror
Meaning: It shows a broken view of life.
Example: Crime gives a cracked mirror of what’s right. / It reflects lies and hurt.
Put Differently: Crime changes how we see the world.
17. Crime is a sickness
Meaning: It spreads and makes things worse.
Example: Crime is a sickness hurting our town. / It made the city feel sick.
Put Differently: Crime causes problems like a disease.
18. Crime is a dark tunnel
Meaning: It feels long, scary, and hard to get out of.
Example: Getting caught in crime is like entering a dark tunnel. / It’s hard to see a way out.
Put Differently: It feels like there’s no easy escape.
19. Crime is a ticking clock
Meaning: It leads to trouble that will happen soon.
Example: That plan was a crime clock ready to go off. / The more they waited, the closer trouble got.
Put Differently: Bad things are coming.
20. Crime is a puppet master
Meaning: It controls people without them noticing.
Example: Crime pulled his strings like a puppet. / It made him do things he didn’t want to.
Put Differently: Crime controls your choices.
21. Crime is a whisper
Meaning: It starts quietly but grows louder over time.
Example: The crime began as a whisper in the streets. / It wasn’t loud, but it was there.
Put Differently: Crime can start small and sneaky.
22. Crime is quicksand
Meaning: The more you’re in it, the harder it is to get out.
Example: He got stuck in crime like quicksand. / It pulled him deeper.
Put Differently: It traps people who don’t leave early.
23. Crime is a cracked foundation
Meaning: It breaks the base of something strong.
Example: Crime was the cracked foundation of their school. / It broke the trust in their group.
Put Differently: Crime weakens what used to be strong.
24. Crime is a firework
Meaning: It may look exciting at first, but it’s dangerous.
Example: He thought crime was cool, but it was just a firework ready to burn. / The fun ended fast.
Put Differently: Crime can start with fun and end badly.
25. Crime is a wall
Meaning: It blocks people from better things.
Example: Crime built a wall between him and his future. / It kept him stuck.
Put Differently: Crime stops growth.
26. Crime is a cracked bell
Meaning: It sounds off, like something is wrong.
Example: The plan rang like a cracked bell. / Everyone knew something felt off.
Put Differently: Crime makes things feel wrong.
27. Crime is a broken compass
Meaning: It points you in the wrong direction.
Example: Crime was his broken compass. / He got lost by following it.
Put Differently: It sends people the wrong way.
28. Crime is a hungry beast
Meaning: It always wants more and never stops.
Example: Crime grew like a hungry beast in the city. / It kept eating away at peace.
Put Differently: It keeps growing if not stopped.
29. Crime is a cracked toy
Meaning: It may look fun but it’s already broken.
Example: That idea was a cracked toy from the start. / Crime looked fun, but it didn’t work right.
Put Differently: It seems fun but brings trouble.
30. Crime is a broken record
Meaning: It repeats the same bad things again and again.
Example: That gang’s crimes were like a broken record. / Same trouble every time.
Put Differently: It keeps happening again and again.
31. Crime is a leaky faucet
Meaning: It might seem small, but it causes big problems over time.
Example: That little crime was like a leaky faucet , it kept getting worse. / It didn’t stop and made a mess.
Put Differently: Small crimes can lead to big trouble.
32. Crime is a fog
Meaning: It makes things hard to see clearly.
Example: Crime was a fog over the town’s future. / No one could see a way out.
Put Differently: It confuses people and hides the truth.
33. Crime is a loud siren
Meaning: It’s a warning that something is wrong.
Example: That crime was a loud siren in our quiet town. / It woke everyone up.
Put Differently: Crime can shock people and bring attention.
34. Crime is a dead-end road
Meaning: It leads nowhere good.
Example: He went down a crime road that had no way out. / It just stopped his future.
Put Differently: Crime takes people to a bad place.
35. Crime is a heavy backpack
Meaning: It’s a burden that people carry with them.
Example: His crimes were like a heavy backpack on his back. / He couldn’t forget them.
Put Differently: Crime brings weight and regret.
36. Crime is a cracked egg
Meaning: Once it breaks, it can’t go back.
Example: That mistake was like a cracked egg no fixing it. / Crime broke things for good.
Put Differently: Some wrongs can’t be undone.
37. Crime is a flickering light
Meaning: It shows danger or something not working right.
Example: The crime wave was like a flickering light in our town. / Trouble was near.
Put Differently: Crime shows something is wrong.
38. Crime is a ticking bomb
Meaning: It could explode into bigger problems anytime.
Example: That plan was a crime bomb waiting to go off. / It scared everyone.
Put Differently: Trouble was close to getting worse.
39. Crime is a sinking boat
Meaning: It drags everything down with it.
Example: His choices were a sinking boat. / He couldn’t keep things afloat.
Put Differently: Crime pulls everything under.
40. Crime is a torn book
Meaning: It ruins a good story or life.
Example: That act tore his story like a ruined book. / The pages couldn’t be fixed.
Put Differently: Crime can break a person’s story.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Metaphors about Crime
Below are 10 simple sentences. Each one talks about crime or its effects, but without using metaphors. Your task is to rewrite each sentence using one of the metaphors you learned earlier. Make sure the new sentence sounds natural and clear.
Sentences to Rewrite
- After the robbery, the whole neighborhood felt scared.
- Small acts of stealing led to bigger crimes in that area.
- Once he started stealing, it was hard for him to stop.
- Crime made the town feel dark and sad.
- He kept getting in trouble because of bad choices.
- The crime problem in our school kept getting worse.
- She did something wrong, and now it’s part of her past forever.
- His bad actions made everyone lose trust in him.
- At first, crime seemed exciting to him, but later it wasn’t fun anymore.
- That part of the city keeps having the same crimes again and again.
Answer Key
- After the robbery, a dark cloud hung over the neighborhood.
- Crime was a broken window that led to more trouble in that area.
- Once he stepped into the crime maze, he couldn’t find his way out.
- Crime was a shadow over the town, making everything feel sad.
- A broken compass kept sending him in the wrong direction.
- Crime spread like a sickness in our school.
- Her mistake was a cracked egg,something that couldn’t be fixed.
- His actions left a stain that people couldn’t forget.
- Crime looked like a firework at first, but it burned out fast.
- That part of the city plays a broken record of crime again and again.
Conclusion
Crime is a serious problem, and people often use special phrases to help explain it. Metaphors make these ideas easier to understand. They compare crime to things like shadows, storms, or traps. These comparisons help us see how crime affects people, places, and choices.
By learning these metaphors, we can talk about crime in smarter ways. We understand how it starts, spreads, and causes harm. These phrases help us see that crime is not just a rule being broken. It’s something that changes lives. When we use these words carefully, we learn to think more about right and wrong.
