A person or thing having good underlying qualities while appearing to be coarse and unpolished.
He’d been in jail several times for fraud but when he found my lost wallet he returned it. A rough diamond if there ever was one.
The United Kingdom.
The rape by a man of his partner on a date.
There’s been so many stories of date rape in the news lately that Suzy arranged to meet her date in a busy pub.
USA, late 20th century. Previously referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’.
A coy reference to an item that has been stolen.
That iPad I just bought in the pub was really cheap. Best not to ask me where it came from. Let’s just say it fell off the back of a lorry.
Britain, mid/late 20th century. The USA has a ‘fell off the back of a truck’ variant.
Britain.
To be in a partnership with, often for unscrupulous purposes.
I saw the pickpocket give Jack the watch he’d stolen. Jack later claimed that he didn’t know him but it seems obvious that they were in cahoots.
Britain, 19th century.
A crime committed by or with the help of someone living or working in the place that it took place.
Only the staff in the security department knew the safe’s combination and it wasn’t forced open. It had to be an inside job.
Britain, early 20th century.
Someone who might claim to be of good behaviour but has in fact a sordid past.
She was critical of those girls in short skirts but she’s no saint herself I can tell you.
Cockney rhyming slang for thief.
Just be careful to keep your purse safe when you go down to the market – there are plenty of tea leaves ready to steal it.
Mostly Britain.
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