usual suspects
The phrase "usual suspects" originated from law enforcement jargon but has since become a common idiom in everyday language.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)People or things that are typically expected to be involved in a particular situation or activity.
Example
- Whenever there's trouble in the neighborhood, the police round up the usual suspects.
- The meeting was attended by the usual suspects: John, Sarah, and Mike.
C1Law Enforcement
(informal, historical)Individuals routinely arrested in response to a crime, often without sufficient evidence.
Example
- After the robbery, the police questioned the usual suspects, but they didn't find any new leads.