General
the sweeney
What does the sweeney mean?
The Met's Flying Squad — the armed-robbery and serious-crime unit that historically chased blaggers across London.
"Bank job that ambitious? Sweeney would've been on them inside a week."
Origin
Cockney rhyming slang: Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad. Cemented in the public ear by the 1970s ITV series The Sweeney with John Thaw and Dennis Waterman.
Frequently asked questions
What does "the sweeney" mean?
It refers to the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad.
How do you use "the sweeney" in a sentence?
"That robbery crew got taken down by the sweeney."
Where does "the sweeney" come from?
It comes from Cockney rhyming slang — "Sweeney Todd" for Flying Squad.
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