case the joint

case the joint

1. slang To observe a place in order to familiarize oneself with its workings in preparation for some criminal activity (often robbery). Judging from the security footage, those men cased the joint hours before robbing it.
2. slang By extension, to thoroughly examine a place. In this usage, no devious motive is implied. As soon as my kids walking into the hotel room, they started casing the joint, exclaiming about everything from the TV to the mini-fridge.
See also: case, joint
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

case the joint

 
1. Sl. to look over some place to figure out how to break in, what to steal, etc. (Underworld.) First of all you gotta case the joint to see where things are. You could see he was casing the joint the way he hung around.
2. Sl. to look a place over. The dog came in and cased the joint, sniffing out friends and foes. The old lady entered slowly, casing the joint for someone of her own age, and finally took a seat.
See also: case, joint
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

case the joint

reconnoitre a place before carrying out a robbery. informal
See also: case, joint
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

case the ˈjoint

(informal) look carefully around a building so that you can plan how to steal things from it at a later time: I saw two men here earlier. Do you think they were casing the joint?
See also: case, joint
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

case the joint

1. tv. to look over some place to figure out how to break in, what to steal, etc. (see also joint.) First of all you gotta case the joint to see where things are.
2. tv. to look a place over. (No criminal intent. From sense 1) The dog came in and cased the joint, sniffing out friends and foes.
See also: case, joint
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • verse (someone or oneself) in (something)
  • verse in
  • wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
  • wash hands of
  • wash one's hands of
  • wash your hands of
  • wash your hands of somebody/something
  • wash your hands of something/someone
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
References in periodicals archive
But Gwilym Owen was recognised because he had been at the Bob Jones Bookmakers premises at Penygroes to case the joint in previous days.
Driven to bookies raid to pay off drug debts
You'll case the joint for surveillance cameras, alarms and escape routes before returning for the loot.
Heat is on for safe crackers; PAYDAY 2
Recorder Richard Atkins told him: "You got yourself smartened up in a suit, and you looked like a young professional when you went to case the joint.
JEWEL THIEF'S pounds 12,000 RINGS RAID ON SHOP
Three weeks later, in March, he returned with 'naive' teenager Ian Tobin, 19, to 'case the joint.'
MAN LIED TO PLAN THEFTS
I also like to re-join line to backing in case the joint is rotten and breaks.
Time to gear up for the trout season
Mr Parker had alleged that Mr Robinson had come into the premises on two earlier occasions in order to "case the joint".
Two cleared of attack on cashier who lost eye