Qnutcase n.\tkeis [n CJ spoken informal someone who behaves strangely and has very unusual ideas: His sister's a real nutcase. She believes in fairies.
El things/ideas/situations
Qcrazy (also mad British) / kreizi, m<ed [adj\ especially spoken ideas, actions, or situations that are crazy or mad are not at all sensible and are likely to cause problems or danger: You see drivers do some crazy things. I Jade wants to build a swimming pool in the garden. I think it's a mad idea.
it's crazy The farmers get more money from the government if they don't plant crops - it's crazy.
гга/й*1 ~ (Cra/it'st rticiH rmKidU'r - m<t(3dt'>r.
A\ Don't say Very crazy' or 'very mad'. Say absolutely crazy/mad or completely
crazy/mad: How can we do all this work in one day? It's absolutely crazy.
insane /m'sein- [adj] an insane idea or plan is stupid or dangerous, and is very
unlikely to succeed: For some insane reason, he decided to do the whole drive in one day.
it is insane to do sth It would be insane to go out in the boat in weather like this.
Qbe lunacy (also be madness
British) /bi: luin^si, bi: 'maedn^s/ [n Uj especially spoken you say that a situation or
action is lunacy or is madness if you
think it is completely crazy: They can't close the hospital - it's madness!
it is sheer lunacy/madness to do sth (=it
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is completely crazy to do it) It would be sheer lunacy to try to cross the desert on your own.
CRIME
THREATEN TELL 5 FH KILL
drugs
see
also
ATTACK COURT/TRIAL
something that is not legal
crime /kraim (n C| an action that is against the law, such as stealing something, taking drugs, or deliberately hurting someone : The number of crimes reported to the police has increased.
police
steal
LAW
commit a crime (=do something that is a crime) We believe that the crime was committed around 7:30 p.m. + against Violent crimes against the elderly are on the increase. serious crime The police say that 50% of serious crimes are drug-related. solve a crime (=find out who did it) a terrible crime which was never solved
Offence is used especially in official situations by the police, judges, and lawyers. Offence can be used both for serious crimes like murder and robbery, and for less serious actions like parking your car in the wrong place or not paying your taxes.
Don't say 'do an offence'. Saycommit an offence
illegal l'lug^l lad;] not legaclass="underline" He was fined for selling illegal drugs. I There is a lot of illegal copying of computer software. it is illegal to do sth In Britain, it is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under 16.
be against the law /bii 3,genst аэ Ъ:/
if something is against the law, it is illegal to do it: Drinking alcohol in a public place is against the law. it is against the law to do sth In
Sweden, it is against the law to hit a child.
break the law /,breik дэ b:/ to do
A
A
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CRIME
something that is illegaclass="underline" People who break the law must expect to be punished. 1 I didn't realize I was breaking the law.
/hk Don't say 'he made a crime' or 'he did
a crime'. Say he committed a crime
offence British offense american /a'fens/ (n CI any action that can be punished by law: Tarrant is now in jail for various offenses including rape. commit an ojffence (=do something that is an offence) Bates is being tried for offences committed in the 1980s. criminal oJFfence Driuing when drunk is a criminal offence.
serious ojfjfence The number of women convicted of serious offences is still relatively small
minor offence (=not very serious) Hewson was arrested for a number of minor offences.
speeding/parking offence Speeding offenses are usually punishable by a fine.
criminal /кпт]п<?1/ [adj only before noun] connected with crimes: James made around £100,000 from his criminal activities.
criminal record (=a list of someone's crimes that is kept by the police) It s very difficult to get a job if you have a criminal record.
criminal charge (=an official statement by the police that someone has done something illegal) West's wife faced serious criminal charges in connection with the murders.
crimes in general
crime /kraim [n U] crimes in general - use this to talk generally about the reasons for crime, the problems it causes, and the number of crimes: the growing problem of crime in the inner cities violent crime Violent crime increased by 36% last year.
serious crime Victims of serious crime are often too scared to talk about their experiences.
You can also use crime before a noun, like an adjective: an increase in the crime rate
(=the number of crimes that happen) I crime
prevention
A Don't say 'the crime' when you are talking about, crimes in generaclass="underline" Peopfe are worried about the increase in crime (not 'in the crime').
someone who is guilty of a crime