safebreaker
Definition
Noun: A criminal who specializes in opening and robbing safes, typically using force, tools, or specialized knowledge to steal the valuable contents inside.
Usage
The term "safebreaker" specifically refers to the person who commits the act of breaking into a safe. It is a compound noun that clearly identifies the criminal's particular skill or method.
Examples
- The police finally apprehended the notorious safebreaker who had targeted several downtown banks.
- Evidence at the scene suggested the work of a professional safebreaker, not an amateur thief.
- In the old movie, the cunning safebreaker used stethoscopes and delicate tools to crack the vault's combination.
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries connotations of a specific, skilled type of criminal from a bygone era, frequently associated with heist films and detective stories.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is exceptionally skilled at uncovering secrets or accessing well-protected information, though this is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Safecracker: A direct synonym, identical in meaning and usage.
- Safe-breaking (noun): The act or crime of breaking into a safe.
- He was convicted for safe-breaking.
Synonyms
- Cracksman
- Peterman (slang, chiefly British)
- Vault robber (broader term)
Related Phrases and Idioms
While "safebreaker" itself is not typically part of idioms, it is central to the imagery of certain expressions: - To crack a safe: The action performed by a safebreaker. - It took them hours to crack the safe. - Safe-cracking: Can refer to the activity or the skill. - He learned the art of safe-cracking.
Noun
-
a thief who breaks open safes to steal valuable contents
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