aid and abet

Meaning

This is a formal, legal, and academic idiom meaning to assist, encourage, or facilitate someone in committing a crime or doing something wrong. 'Aid' refers to physical or material assistance, while 'abet' means to encourage or incite. It is often used in legal contexts or analytical essays discussing complicity.

Examples

• The accountant was charged with conspiring to aid and abet tax evasion.

  The accountant was charged with conspiring to aid and abet tax evasion.

• By remaining silent, the board of directors seemed to aid and abet the CEO's fraudulent activities.

  By remaining silent, the board of directors seemed to aid and abet the CEO's fraudulent activities.

• Historians debate whether neighboring countries did more to aid and abet the rebellion.

  Historians debate whether neighboring countries did more to aid and abet the rebellion.

• Anyone who helps the suspect escape will be prosecuted for trying to aid and abet a fugitive.

  Anyone who helps the suspect escape will be prosecuted for trying to aid and abet a fugitive.

• The software was designed to aid and abet copyright infringement on a massive scale.

  The software was designed to aid and abet copyright infringement on a massive scale.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He aided and abetted to the crime.

  ✓ He aided and abetted the crime.

  'Aid and abet' is a transitive verb phrase and takes a direct object. Do not use the preposition 'to'.

• ✗ She was accused of aiding and abetting for his escape.

  ✓ She was accused of aiding and abetting his escape.

  Do not use 'for' after 'aiding and abetting' to introduce the action or person helped.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The manager was arrested for helping to ___ the company's financial fraud.

  💡 A formal term for assisting or encouraging a crime.

  Show answer

  aid and abet

• You cannot ___ a criminal and expect to avoid legal consequences.

  💡 This phrase combines physical help and encouragement.

  Show answer

  aid and abet