armed and dangerous

armed and dangerous

Possessing a weapon and likely to use it. Typically said of criminals, especially fugitives. The most wanted fugitives on this list are all considered armed and dangerous.
See also: and, arm, dangerous
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*armed and dangerous

Cliché [of someone who is suspected of a crime] having a gun or other lethal weapon and not being reluctant to use it. (This is part of a warning to police officers who might try to capture an armed suspect. *Typically: be ~; be regarded as ~; be presumed to be ~.) The murderer is at large, presumed to be armed and dangerous. The suspect has killed once and is armed and dangerous.
See also: and, arm, dangerous
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • nail
  • nailed
  • armed to the teeth
  • honour among thieves
  • there is honor among thieves
  • in control of
  • in control of (someone or something)
  • in control
  • (as) strong as an ox
  • ox
References in periodicals archive
Detectives say he is armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
ARMED AND ON THE RUN; Police warn not to approach this dangerous man
At least where orders to drop the weapon have gone unheeded, an officer is not required to wait until an armed and dangerous felon has drawn a bead on the officer or others before using deadly force." (32)
Use-of-force policies and training: a reasoned approach (part two). (Legal Digest)
Their dedication and hard work over the last six months may have saved many lives." Attorney General Janet Reno was also effusive, declaring that the BATF agents had bravely defended the nation from "a potentially dangerous situation." Raymond Kelly, the Treasury Department undersecretary who oversees the BATF, hailed the demise of an "armed and dangerous" militia group bent on stirring up "civil unrest."
Raiding the vipers' nest
In short, the FBI winks at armed and dangerous right-wing groups and keeps under surveillance nonviolent centrist and left-wing groups which have never been a threat to anyone.
Armed and dangerous: the threat of the "patriot militias."(Cover Story)
They observed no unusual conduct that might have led the officers to reasonably conclude, in light of their experience and training, that criminal activity was about to occur or that the individuals with whom they were dealing were armed and dangerous. Officers are entitled to conduct a carefully limited search of the outer clothing of individuals who pose a danger to them for the protection of themselves and others in the area and in an attempt to discover weapons which might be used to assault them.
Anonymous Tips and Frisks
They also know that when one is armed and dangerous, others, even government bureaucrats, tend to leave a person alone.
Extreme prejudice
In considering the availability of other options, agents are reminded that pursuing an armed and dangerous subject is not a safe one.
FBI training on the new federal deadly force policy
...there must be a narrowly drawn authority to permit a reasonable search for weapons for the protection of the police officer, where he has reason to believe that he is dealing with an armed and dangerous individual, regardless of whether he has probable cause to arrest the individual for a crime.(6)
Police officer safety and the Constitution