knife crime

(UK, humorous) To stab.

(New York, slang, 1970s-1980s, by extension) A folding knife, especially one used in a crime.

(UK, Australia, informal) A criminal.

A clipped, casual term for a criminal — straightforward, no-nonsense shorthand used in everyday speech across the UK and Australia. It strips away any drama or formality from 'criminal,' making it feel like a known quantity rather than a dramatic accusation. Detectives use it in procedural dramas, journalists use it in tabloids, and ordinary people use it when talking about someone in the neighbourhood who's up to no good. Short, sharp, and unmistakable.