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Perfect Stranger Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Vocabulary (idiom) question no. 19: to be in cahoots with sb

Hi all,

Here's a friendly conversation between two non-native speakers. It's nature is purely jocular. The point was to use some idioms in a natural way. I'd be grateful if you could check these sentences and if there's anything wrong, please let me know. Still, most of my attention is on to be in cahoots with sb

A: I'd sell my soul for this car. Or one of my kidneys for that matter.
B: Well, you can always rob a bank.
A: Great idea. Are you in for the job?
B: Nah, I'll be the one to rat you out.
A: Ah, I was hoping you could be in cahoots with me on this one.

Thanks a million!
  

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12 Answers
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That seems fine as an exercise.
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B: Nah, I'd be the one to rat you out.
A: Ah, I was hoping you could be in cahoots with me on this one.

'in cahoots' doesn't sound right to me here. Typically I hear the expression when speaking of a person already complicit in some scheme or other, never
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CalifJimB: Nah, I'd be the one to rat you out.
Thanks

CJ, two questions.

Firstly, why did you change I'll into I'd? Is it because the conversation was about a hypothetical situation?
CalifJim'in cahoots' doesn't sound right to me here
Is there any other idiom you'd use here to re
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Perfect StrangerFirstly, why did you change I'll into I'd? Is it because the conversation was about a hypothetical situation?
Yes. The participants in this dialog are only imagining the situation of robbing a bank. They aren't really going to do it.
Perfect StrangerIs there any other idiom you'd use here to replace in cahoots with sb?
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I see. Thanks a lot. Hmm... So if you heard a conversation like that, would you think that the person who used the idiom has clearly made a mistake?
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Perfect StrangerSo if you heard a conversation like that, would you think that the person who used the idiom has clearly made a mistake?
I would certainly find "in cahoots" strange in that context.

CJ
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Perfect StrangerIs there any other idiom you'd use here to replace in cahoots with sb?
Maybe a long shot, but...

'I was hoping you wanted to be my partner in crime.'


- DJB -
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Hi there,

I don't want to start a new thread since my next question concerns to be in cahoots with sb again. Today a friend of mine texted me the following words:

Guess what, three of my students didn't show up for the class! All three of them!

I replied (somewhat ironically) Ha, they must be in cahoots with one another! (the in
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Perfect StrangerProperly used or not?
Yes, that's a correct use. In my opinion this use of 'in cahoots' is not an example of irony, however.

Note that 'in cahoots' is a very rarely used expression.

CJ
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CalifJim In my opinion this use of 'in cahoots' is not an example of irony, however.Note that 'in cahoots' is a very rarely used expression.
Thanks CJ. Appreciate your insights.

As for the intended ironic meaning... I wanted to tell my friend that the students were "conspiring" against him and that's why they didn't show up for the class. My basic ass
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