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Society, Law & Politics - Fraud & Swindle

Explore English idioms regarding fraud and swindle with examples like "on the fiddle" and "slush fund".

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English idioms related to Society, Law & Politics
dog and pony show

a flashy or impressive event that lacks substance or meaning

Ex: The conference was just a dog and pony show, full of flashy slides but no real ideas. 
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loan shark

a person who lends money to people, typically under illegal conditions, at a very high rate of interest

Ex: He borrowed money from a loan shark and ended up owing twice as much. 
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five-finger discount

the action of taking goods from a store without paying for them

Ex: He tried the five-finger discount on a pair of headphones and got caught at the door. 
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funny business

any activity or behavior that is considered suspicious, dishonest, or deceptive, often intended to deceive or cheat others

Ex: The accountant noticed some funny business in the company's expense reports. 
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creative accounting

the use of misleading accounting methods to present a company's financial position in a more favorable light

Ex: The company used creative accounting to hide its declining profits. 
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money laundering

the process of concealing the origins, ownership, or destination of illegally obtained money by passing it through a legitimate financial institution or businesses

Ex: The restaurant was used for money laundering by moving illegal cash through its daily sales. 
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sharp [practice]

the act or practice of engaging in unethical or questionable business practices that are intended to gain an advantage over competitors or deceive customers

Ex: The company was accused of sharp practice after hiding extra fees in the contract. 
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hush money

money that is offered to someone so that they do not share a piece of information or a secret with others

Ex: He paid hush money to keep the scandal out of the newspapers. 
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slush fund

an amount of money that is set aside to be used for dishonest or illegal activities

Ex: The company maintained a slush fund to secure contracts through favors. 
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to [take] {sb} to the cleaners

to take someone's possessions by force or without the right to do so

Ex: The gang took him to the cleaners and left him with nothing but his keys. 
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easy money

money that one gains without much effort and often by dishonest means

Ex: He made easy money by selling fake tickets online. 
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on the fiddle

used to refer to a person, organization, etc. that uses dishonest or illegal methods to gain money

Ex: The accountant was on the fiddle for years before anyone noticed. 
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(quick|fast) buck
quick buck
[phrase]

money earned quickly or with ease, particularly in a dishonest way

Ex: He sold fake designer bags just to make a quick buck. 
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