crime sheet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Law Enforcement/Military Jargon
Quick answer
What does “crime sheet” mean?
A police record of an individual's previous criminal charges or offenses.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A police record of an individual's previous criminal charges or offenses; a criminal record.
A colloquial term, particularly in UK police and military contexts, for an official document listing a person's proven or alleged criminal acts or disciplinary infractions. Metaphorically, it can refer to any list of past wrongdoings or failings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Predominantly a British English term, especially in UK police and military slang. In American English, 'rap sheet', 'criminal record', or 'police record' are far more common.
Connotations
In the UK, it can sound slightly dated or institutionally specific. In the US, it would likely not be understood in a law enforcement context and might be interpreted literally (e.g., a sheet of paper about crime).
Frequency
Low frequency in general corpora; specialised frequency in UK police/military contexts. Rare to non-existent in contemporary American English.
Grammar
How to Use “crime sheet” in a Sentence
[Subject] has a crime sheet.[Verb] someone's crime sheet (e.g., check, pull up).It's on his crime sheet.A crime sheet for [offense/period].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Relevant HR/legal term would be 'criminal background check'.
Academic
Not used in formal academic writing. Used only in sociological or criminological studies as reported speech or a colloquial term.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation; 'criminal record' is standard. Might be used by someone with a police/military background.
Technical
Informal jargon within UK police forces and military disciplinary systems.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crime sheet”
- Using it in formal writing. Confusing it with 'charge sheet' (a list of current charges). Using it in American contexts where 'rap sheet' is expected. Treating it as a verb (you cannot 'crime sheet' someone).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal jargon. The formal terms are 'criminal record', 'police record', or 'record of previous convictions'.
The closest equivalent in informal American English is 'rap sheet'. 'Criminal record' is the standard neutral term in both varieties.
Yes, it can refer to any recorded offense, from minor public order violations to serious crimes. Context often indicates the severity (e.g., 'a long crime sheet' vs. 'a minor entry on his crime sheet').
Primarily yes, it refers to a person's record. It would not typically be used for a company's history of regulatory violations, for which 'compliance record' or 'regulatory history' would be used.
A police record of an individual's previous criminal charges or offenses.
Crime sheet: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪm ʃiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪm ʃiːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A crime sheet as long as your arm (having a very long list of offenses).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a police officer holding a single SHEET of paper listing all the CRIMEs a person has committed – their 'crime sheet'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A RECORD / WRONGDOING IS A LISTED ITEM (past misdeeds are conceptualized as entries on an official document).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'crime sheet' a recognised informal term?