Detective Harris had been called to the mansion after the priceless necklace disappeared.
“No signs of forced entry,” the butler explained. “Only three people were here last night.”
Harris looked at the suspects. The young heiress, her jealous cousin, and the trusted maid.
“You’re all under the gun now,” Harris warned. “The necklace has to be found by morning.”
The heiress nervously twirled her necklace. “I swear, I’m innocent. But I’m in over my head here.”
The cousin smirked. “Maybe you’re just playing dumb.”
The maid looked down, avoiding eye contact. Harris noticed a faint smell of perfume on her sleeve — one the heiress always wore.
“I think someone is trying to throw me off the scent,” Harris said, narrowing his eyes.
After hours of questioning, he caught the maid sneaking back to the garden.
Caught red-handed, she confessed.
“I didn’t want to steal it,” she cried. “I was just covering my tracks for someone else.”
Idioms Used in the Story
1. Under the gun
Meaning: Under pressure to do something quickly.
Examples:
- The team was under the gun to finish the project by Friday.
- She felt under the gun before the final exam.
2. In over your head
Meaning: In a situation that is too difficult to handle.
Examples:
- He was in over his head when he took that management job.
- Don’t take on too much or you’ll be in over your head.
3. Play dumb
Meaning: To pretend not to know something.
Examples:
- She played dumb when asked about the missing money.
- Sometimes it’s best to play dumb in tricky situations.
4. Throw someone off the scent
Meaning: To mislead someone or divert attention.
Examples:
- The suspect tried to throw the police off the scent by giving false clues.
- Don’t try to throw me off the scent — I know what happened.
5. Cover your tracks
Meaning: To hide evidence of wrongdoing.
Examples:
- He covered his tracks by deleting all the emails.
- She tried to cover her tracks after breaking the vase.
