safe-breaker
Definition
Noun: A person who illegally opens safes, typically to steal valuable items.
Usage Examples
- (A professional criminal who opens safes without authorization.)
- (An expert in bypassing security mechanisms of safes.)
Advanced Usage
- "to work as a safe-breaker": to engage in the criminal profession of opening safes.
- He learned the trade of a safe-breaker from his uncle. (He was trained in the illegal skill of opening safes.)
Variants and Related Words
- Safe-breaking (noun): the act or skill of illegally opening safes.
- Safe-breaking requires patience and technical knowledge. (The practice of cracking safes.)
- Safecracker (noun): a synonym for safe-breaker, often used more broadly.
- The safecracker was known for his silent entry. (Another term for a safe-breaker.)
Synonyms
- Safecracker: a person who opens safes illegally.
- Vault cracker: a specialist in breaking into vaults or strongboxes.
- Burglar: a person who enters buildings illegally to steal, though not specifically focused on safes.
Related Idioms
- Crack a safe: to open a safe illegally.
- The thief managed to crack the safe in under ten minutes. (He successfully opened the safe without a key or combination.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Break into: to enter a place or container illegally.
- The safe-breaker broke into the bank's safe room. (He entered the secure area without permission.)