The police arrested criminals.

Meaning: This sentence describes an action that the police have done, which is arresting criminals. It implies that the police are responsible for upholding the law and keeping the community safe.

Choice of Words: Police are people who are responsible for enforcing the law. Arrested means to take someone into custody for a crime. Criminals are people who have committed a crime. When you put them together, "The police arrested criminals" tells a story about the police taking people who have committed a crime into custody.

Alternative Expressions

The police put handcuffs on the bad guys.

Meaning: This means that the police have taken people who have broken the law and put them in jail or another place where they can't hurt others.

Choice of Words: Handcuffs are metal bracelets that are used to keep someone's hands together. Bad guys are people who do bad things. When you put them together, "The police put handcuffs on the bad guys" means that the police have arrested the people who have broken the law.

The police took the mean people to jail.

Meaning: This means that the police have taken people who have broken the law and put them in jail or another place where they can't hurt others.

Choice of Words: Jail is a place where people who have broken the law are kept. Mean people are people who are unkind or cruel. When you put them together, "The police took the mean people to jail" means that the police have arrested the people who have broken the law.

Related Expressions