(as) crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
Very unscrupulous and deceptive. Paul's never run an honest business in his life—that guy is as crooked as a barrel of fish hooks.
crook (one's)/the elbow
To drink alcohol, perhaps excessively. Come crook your elbow at the bar with us tonight! If you're this hung-over, you must have really crooked the elbow at the party last night.
*crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
and *crooked as a fish hook; *crooked as a dog's hind legvery dishonest. (*Also: as ~.) Don't play cards with him. He's as crooked as a barrel of fish hooks. Mary says all politicians are crooked as a dog's hind leg.