crook
B2Informal, Neutral, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A dishonest person, especially a criminal.
A bend or curve; a shepherd's or bishop's hooked staff; to bend or curve something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Crook" has three distinct but related meanings: 1) Criminal/Dishonest Person (n), 2) A bend or hooked staff (n), 3) To bend (v). The core criminal sense is metonymically derived from the idea of a 'bent' character. The technical sense of a 'shepherd's crook' is neutral. The verb sense is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The meaning 'dishonest person' is shared. In Australian and NZ English, 'crook' is also a common informal adjective meaning 'ill' or 'unwell', which is rarer in US/UK usage.
Connotations
In the criminal sense, equally negative. In UK, 'by hook or by crook' is more common phrasing. The verb 'to crook one's finger' is slightly more literary in both regions.
Frequency
The noun meaning 'criminal' is moderately common in news/crime contexts in both. The verb is less frequent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] NP (crook one's finger)[N] of NP (crook of the arm/elbow)[N] as NP (work as a crook)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by hook or by crook (by any means necessary)”
- “crook in the lot (an unavoidable hardship)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for unethical businesspeople. 'The CEO turned out to be a crook who embezzled funds.'
Academic
Rare; appears in historical/sociological texts on crime. 'The figure of the urban crook in 19th-century literature.'
Everyday
Common in informal talk about crime. 'My car was stolen by some crook.'
Technical
In farming/religion: 'The bishop carried his ceremonial crook.' In anatomy: 'the crook of the elbow.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He crooked his index finger to summon the waiter.
- The old tree crooks over the garden path.
American English
- She crooked her arm to hold the package.
- The river crooks sharply to the north just past the mill.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use; 'crookedly' is used).
American English
- (No standard adverbial use; 'crookedly' is used).
adjective
British English
- He's feeling a bit crook today. (Australian influence, informal for 'ill')
- That deal seems decidedly crook to me.
American English
- (Adjective use is rare; 'crooked' is standard).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police caught the crook.
- She held the baby in the crook of her arm.
- He's just a small-time crook who sells fake watches.
- The path crooks around the old oak tree.
- The investigation revealed a network of crooks within the local government.
- By hook or by crook, I will finish this project on time.
- The charismatic leader was ultimately revealed to be nothing more than a charismatic crook.
- The ancient shepherd's crook, carved from a single piece of wood, was displayed in the museum.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CROOKed person – someone morally bent, not straight.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISHONESTY IS BENT/CROOKED; MORALITY IS STRAIGHT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "крюк" (hook) for the criminal sense. The criminal is "мошенник", "жулик". The shepherd's crook is "посох". The body part is "сгиб" (as in "сгиб локтя").
Common Mistakes
- Using 'crook' as a formal legal term (use 'defendant', 'convict'). Confusing 'crook' (n) with 'crooked' (adj).
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY meaning of 'crook' in modern general English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's less common. It means 'to bend', e.g., 'He crooked his finger.'
No, for the criminal sense it is informal/neutral. For the staff or bend sense, it is neutral/technical.
'Crook' is primarily a noun (criminal, bend) or verb (to bend). 'Crooked' is an adjective meaning bent, curved, or dishonest.
Yes, it's a common idiom meaning 'by any means necessary', regardless of method.