Useful Expressions
Level: Elementary Intermediate Advanced
More unusual crimes
As an advanced student, you are no doubt familiar with common crime names like murder and robbery. But there are many other crimes that have come to prominence in recent times.
Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing
- Joy-riding
- Identity theft
- Computer phishing
- Intellectual property violation
- Fly tipping
- Unfair dismissal
- Indecent exposure
- Cruelty to animals
- Inciting racial hatred
- Happy slapping
How To Use These Phrases In Your English
- Phrase 1 refers to stealing other people's cars, driving them in a dangerous way and then abandoning them. Many of the people doing this in the UK are under 18 and have had no driving lessons.
- Phrase 2 refers to the gathering enough information about an inocent victim to pretend to be that person in order to steal money and property from them.
- Phrase 3 is the computer version of 2. Criminals set up fake bank websites to trick victims into giving away their passwords. They then use the passwords to steal the victim's money.
- Phrase 4 is the copying (or using without paying for) music, films, written text and computer programmes. This includes downloading songs without paying.
- Phrase 5 is dumping of rubbish in the wrong place. It is often done just beside the road in the countryside in the UK.
- In 6, 'unfair dismissal' is when a company fires a worker for an unfair reason such as being too old.
- In 7, 'indecent exposure' is showing parts of your body that you are supposed to keep hidden. This is becoming less and less serious in the UK.
- In 8, 'cruelty to animals' is seen as a crime in the UK and people have been sent to prison in recent recent years.
- In 9, 'inciting racial hatred' refers to publishing material or making speeches that encourage other people to be racist. This crime can carry very long prison sentences.
- In 10, 'happy slapping' is a recent phenomenon in which young people send mobile phone videos to their friends in which they physically attack random strangers.