inside job

American  

noun

1. a crime committed by or in collusion with a person or persons closely associated with the victim.

   The robbery seemed an inside job, because there was no evidence of forced entry.

---

inside job British  

noun

1. informal a crime committed with the assistance of someone associated with the victim, such as a person employed on the premises burgled

---

Etymology

Origin of inside job

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

But if we seek self-worth from a three-piece living-room suite from Fendi Casa, we will never stop spending because, as you are painfully aware, self-worth is an inside job.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

This and the fact that the thieves deliberately bypassed the one crown containing fake gems were fairly solid signals, Mr. Wittman says, that the heist was an inside job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

There was no evidence at this time to suggest the theft was an inside job confirming there were no accomplices who worked at the museum, she added.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025

Police, meanwhile, quickly dismissed the notion that Kardashian was lying because she was so badly shaken up, but seriously investigated whether it was an inside job.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025

The conclusion was obvious: it was an inside job.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day