on the crook
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
In a crooked or dishonest manner.
Register: slang
Examples
Martin said at first that he bought the flour of a miller […] He next stated that it was an example, which he would not have pay to for^([sic]), and subsequently he confessed that he got it "on the crook."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “on the crook” mean?
In a crooked or dishonest manner.
Is “on the crook” formal or informal?
on the crook is generally slang.