buy-and-bust operation

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Explanation of "Buy-and-Bust Operation"

Definition: A "buy-and-bust operation" is a type of undercover police operation. In this operation, police officers pretend to be customers and buy illegal drugs from drug dealers. The goal is to catch these dealers in the act of selling drugs.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "buy-and-bust operation" when talking about police activities, especially in the context of drug enforcement.
• It is a noun phrase, so it can be used as the subject or object in a sentence.

Example:

• "The police conducted a buy-and-bust operation to arrest the dealers selling drugs in the neighborhood."

Advanced Usage:

• In discussions about law enforcement strategies, you might say, "The effectiveness of buy-and-bust operations can vary depending on the community and the level of organization among local drug dealers."

Word Variants:

• Buy-and-bust (adjective): You might see this used to describe specific operations, e.g., "buy-and-bust tactics."
• Operation (noun): The general term can refer to any planned police activity, not just drug-related.

Different Meaning:

• While "buy-and-bust" specifically refers to drug enforcement, "operation" can have many meanings in English, such as a medical procedure or a business activity.

Synonyms:

• Undercover operation: A broader term that includes any secret police work.
• Sting operation: Another synonym that refers to a similar tactic, often used for various types of crime, not just drug-related.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically use "buy-and-bust operation," but you might encounter phrases like:
  • "Catch someone red-handed": This means to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong, similar to what happens in a buy-and-bust operation.
  • "Go undercover": To disguise oneself in order to gather information or evidence, which is part of the buy-and-bust process.

Conclusion:

The term "buy-and-bust operation" is specific to law enforcement and drug-related activities. It illustrates how police work can involve deception to catch criminals.

Academic

Noun

1. an undercover operation by narcotics detectives to catch unsuspecting drug dealers