Street
case
What does case mean?
To case a place (or 'case the joint') is to survey and study a target, noting security, layout, and routines, in preparation for a robbery.
"They spent a week casing the jewelry store before the break-in."
Origin
American underworld slang, early 20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to 'case' a place?
To case a place is to survey and study a target, noting its security, layout, and routines, in preparation for a robbery.
What does 'case the joint' mean?
It means to scout out a location before robbing it, checking how to get in, get out, and avoid detection.
Where does this sense of 'case' come from?
It is early 20th-century American underworld slang.
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