criminal /'krim^n^l/ In C] someone who is
guilty of a serious crime or of several crimes: The police are hunting for a dangerous criminal named Joseph DeCosta.
offender bfendaV [n C] someone who has broken the law and is being punished for doing this: The courts should impose tougher punishments on offenders. young offender British juvenile offender american (=under 18 years old) The system for dealing with young offenders doesn 't really work.
Offender is used especially in official situations, for example by politicians or the police.
gang /gxi]l [n С] a group of criminals who work together: Gangs of thieues used to hang around the station, armed gang (=with guns) An armed gang robbed a warehouse in the south of the city.
organized crime /^ganaizd kraim, [n
petty crime |=crime that is not very serious) Leo became involved in petty crime at a very young age.
CRIME
U) large criminal organizations that plan and control serious crimes such as robbing banks and selling drugs: Police need more resources to fight organized crime.
CRITICIZE
Ш COMPLAINING Ш OPINIONS ^ ^ ^ DISAGREE
see
also ^^
blame
to criticize someone or something in an annoying, unfair, or unkind way
find Jault with sth /,faind foilt wrfi (sth)/ to criticize things that are wrong with
praise ^^ complain
4 \
s3 disagreeing
to say what is bad about a person, plan, performance etc
criticize (also criticise British) /'кпЦ-
saizj [f l/T] to say what is bad about someone or something: Stop criticizing my driuing.' I People are always criticizing the Royal family, but I think they do a good job. \ It's easy to criticize, but managing a football team can be an extremely difficult job. criticize sb for doing sth The United Nations was criticized for failing to react sooner to the crisis.
criticize sb/sth as The TV show was criticized as racist and inaccurate.
attack /g'taek/ (и T] to strongly and publicly criticize a person, plan, or belief that you completely disagree with: Several actors have attacked proposals to cut the theatre's budget. attack sb for (doing) stk Critics attacked Roosevelt for not doing
enough.
164
be critical /bi: kritiM/ to strongly criticize a plan, system, or way of doing something, especially when you give detailed reasons why you think it is wrong: Don't be so critical - we're doing our best. + of Miller was critical of the way the company was managed, be highly critical (=very critical) The article is highly critical of US policies towards Central America.
someone or something, especially small and unimportant things: * No-one enjoys working for a boss who a/ways finds fault with their work.
pick holes in sth /,pik 'haulz in (sth)/ informal, especially British to criticize small details in someone's ideas or plan - use this about someone who seems to be looking for problems and mistakes: As soon as she stopped talking, Janet's colleagues began to pick holes in the idea.
talk about sb behind their back
,D:k abaut (sb) bi.hamd 'Ыек/ to criticize someone when they are not there: / was very upset when 1 found out that they'd all been talking about me behind my back.
make fun of sb/poke fun at sb
/.meik Тлп dv (sb), ,рэок Тлп <et (sb)/ to say unkind things about someone or about the things they do, in order to make them look silly: The kids at school make fun of Jack because he's fat. I a comedian who pokes fun at TV celebrities and politicians
Q to tell someone that they should not have done something
tell sb off /.tel (sb) Dt]|-b:f/ (phrasal verb T] to tell someone that they should not have done something, and warn them that they must not do it again - use this especially about teachers and parents talking to children
+ /or When I got home my dad told me off for staying out so late, get told off (=be told off) She was always getting told off by her teachers.
chew sb out /,tju:(sb) aotl[phrasal verb T| american informal to talk to someone angrily for a long time, and tell them that they should not have done something: Diane was late for the th'rd time that week, and the boss called her into his office and chewed her out. get chewed out I was always getting chewed out for things I hadn't even done.
В something that you write or say in order to criticize
criticism /'knt^siz^m/ [n C/U) what you say or write when you criticize someone or something: Bill's very sensitive to any kind of criticism.
+ of The report makes many criticisms of the nation's prison system. severe/strong criticism There has been strong criticism of these proposals. come in for criticism (=be criticized) Taylor has come in for a lot of criticism for his part in the affair.
attack /э'1ак/ 1л С] a statement that criticizes someone publicly, especially in politics
+ on These newspapers often contained
attacks on the Church come under attack from sb (=be criticized by someone) Once again the oil companies have come under attack from environmentalists.
critical 'kritiM/ [cdjl a critical statement, report, or description criticizes someone or something: She was offended whenever anyone made critical remarks about her acting ability.