partner in crime
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who collaborates with another, especially in an illicit, mischievous, or secretive activity. The term implies a close, complicit association in a scheme or deed, often with a connotation of shared risk and camaraderie.
Usage
The term "partner in crime" is used to describe a close accomplice. It is most commonly used in a figurative and playful sense to refer to a friend who joins in on harmless mischief or shared adventures, though it can literally refer to an accomplice in illegal acts. It functions as a countable noun.
Examples
- She's my best friend and partner in crime; we do everything together.
- The two thieves were partners in crime for over a decade before being caught.
- "Who ate the last cookie?" "I did, but my partner in crime here helped me finish the milk!"
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used humorously or affectionately to emphasize a deep, loyal, and conspiratorial bond between friends or allies, even in completely legal contexts.
- It can be used in business or project settings to describe a close collaborator on a difficult or risky venture.
- On this new startup, she's my partner in crime; we're challenging the industry giants.
Variants and Related Words
- Accomplice (n.): A person who helps another commit a crime. (More formal and specifically legal than "partner in crime").
- Confederate (n.): A person or group united with another for a common purpose, often in a secret plot.
- Collaborator (n.): A person who works jointly on an activity or project. (Neutral, without the inherent connotation of mischief or illegality).
Synonyms
- Accomplice
- Confederate
- Ally (in a scheme)
- Collaborator (in a context of secrecy or mischief)
- Sidekick (implies a secondary role)
Antonyms
- Adversary
- Opponent
- Rival
- Law-abiding citizen
Idioms and Fixed Phrases
- Partners in crime: The standard plural form.
- They weren't just colleagues; they were partners in crime in every office prank.
- The phrase itself is an idiom. Its meaning extends beyond literal crime to encompass any close partnership in playful or secretive endeavors.
Noun
- someone who assists in a plot