PhrasesHub

The usual suspects

    Definitions

      • familiar group of people
        Refers to a familiar group of people or things that are frequently or predictably involved in a particular situation or activity

      • potential suspects
        Refers to a group of people who are likely to be involved in a particular event or situation, particularly in a negative or criminal context

    Examples of The usual suspects

    • The police questioned the usual suspects in the bank robbery.

      This idiom is used to describe a group of people who are often associated with a particular type of crime or wrongdoing. In this example, the "usual suspects" are a group of people who have been involved in bank robberies in the past, and the police assume that they were involved in the current robbery as well.

    • The suspects tried to throw the police off their trail by planting false evidence to implicate the usual suspects.

      Here, the idiom is being used to refer to a group of people who have been falsely accused or implicated in a crime. The suspects in this example are attempting to shift the focus of the investigation away from themselves by setting up the "usual suspects" to take the blame instead.

    • My friend always blames her mistakes on the usual suspects - ignorance and inexperience.

      In this example, the idiom is being used in a more lighthearted way to describe a group of behaviors or factors that are commonly associated with errors or misjudgments. The "usual suspects" in this case are ignorance and inexperience - qualities that my friend often invokes as explanations for her mistakes.

    • The company's board of directors knew that they couldn't fix the problem by simply getting rid of the usual suspects - they had to address the systemic issues that were causing the problems.

      Here, the idiom is being used to emphasize that there are often underlying causes or structural problems that need to be addressed in order to solve a larger problem, rather than simply blaming and removing a few individuals who are seen as the visible representations of that problem. The "usual suspects" in this case are the individuals who are most obviously associated with the problem, but removing them will not actually solve the root cause of the issue.

    • The police rounded up the usual suspects in their investigation of the bank robbery.

      This idiom is commonly used in criminal investigations to refer to the group of individuals who have a history of involvement in similar crimes. It suggests that these individuals are known to law enforcement authorities and are likely suspects due to their past record.

    • Whenever something goes wrong in my office, it seems like the usual suspects are involved.

      This idiom is used in non-criminal contexts to denote people who are repeatedly found to be responsible for negative outcomes. It implies that these individuals are seen as troublesome or unreliable and are associated with negative consequences.

    • The usual suspects for this year's award ceremony have been announced, and I'm pleased to see that my work has been recognized.

      In this context, "the usual suspects" refers to the group of individuals who are traditionally nominated for or receive awards in a particular field. The idiom suggests that these individuals are well-established and respected in their respective fields, and their nominations or awards are expected.

    • The team's usual suspects stepped up to the challenge and delivered winning performances in the final.

      This idiom is used in sports to describe the players who are consistently top performers in a team. It implies that these individuals are counted on to deliver exceptional performances in crucial situations, and their contributions are expected.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "the usual suspects" is commonly used to refer to a familiar group of people or things that are frequently involved in a particular situation or activity. It can also be used to suggest potential suspects in a negative or criminal context. The phrase is often used informally in casual conversation or in more formal contexts to convey the idea of predictability or familiarity.

    Origin of "The usual suspects"

    The phrase "the usual suspects" originated from the title of a 1942 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In the context of the film, the phrase referred to a group of criminals who were frequently involved in criminal activities. Over time, the phrase has evolved to be used more broadly to refer to any familiar or predictable group of people or things. It has become a popular idiom in English language and is often used in various contexts to convey the idea of predictability or familiarity.