Crime doesn't pay

Posted by Smokey Stover on May 09, 2006

In Reply to: Crime doesn't pay posted by Victoria on May 09, 2006

: I am a foreigner. Would anyone help me to translate the phrase "Crime doesn't pay"? Naturally, I understand every single word but cannot get the idea.
: Thank you

As it happens, this phrase has been discussed on Phrase Finders. Type it into the Search BOx, top of the previous page, and you will read a bit about the history of the phrase and it's popularity.

But you wanted to know what it means. It's a slogan from the Department of Wishful THinking. It means that even though committing crimes sounds like a highly rewarding profession, be warned! As a criminal you're going to be found out, your illicit earnings will be confiscated and you'll go to jail. The net pay-off makes crime a chump's game. In the long run, crime is just not profitable. SS

• Crime doesn't pay ESC 09/May/06
  • Crime doesn't pay Bob 09/May/06