Scout, case the joint “踩点”如何翻译成英语 刑侦小说警匪电影常用词汇

donzhtm

donzh.com
In Chinese, there is an expression "踩点", which means thieves or robbers are lurking somewhere before they strike. What is the appropriate translation in English?

ChatGPT:
The appropriate translation of "踩点" in English could be "scouting" or "casing the joint". It refers to the act of thieves or robbers surveying a location, such as a store or house, to gather information and plan their crime before executing it.

donzh.com
Please explain what is "casing the joint".

ChatGPT:
"Casing the joint" is a slang term that refers to the act of inspecting a location in order to plan and prepare for a crime, typically a burglary or a robbery. This can involve scouting the location, identifying potential entry and exit points, assessing security measures, and determining the presence of alarms or surveillance cameras. The term is often used by law enforcement officers to describe the actions of criminals who are in the process of preparing for a crime.

donzh.com
The origin of "casing the joint"?

ChatGPT:
The exact origin of the phrase "casing the joint" is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century, specifically in the criminal underworld. The word "joint" was slang for a place or location, often used to describe a business establishment, especially a store or bank that might be targeted by robbers.

The act of "casing" refers to a criminal's pre-operational surveillance of a location or target to gather information and plan their crime. This involves observing the location's security measures, potential escape routes, and the habits of employees or customers, in order to determine the best time and method to commit the crime.
Overall, "casing the joint" became a common phrase among criminals and eventually entered mainstream vocabulary as a way to describe any type of pre-operational surveillance or planning, not just criminal activities.

donzh.com
Any more synonyms of "scouting" or "casing the joint"?

ChatGPT:

Sure, here are some more synonyms for "scouting" or "casing the joint":
   0. Reconnoitering

• Surveillance
• Observing
• Monitoring
• Watching
• Investigating
• Probing
• Examining
• Inspecting
• Stakeout
  

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桐木舟注解
Case the joint:
(idiomatic, slang, criminology) To thoroughly observe or examine a place, in order to familiarize oneself with its workings in preparation for criminal activity, often robbery.

To Case the Join Meaning

Definition: To look around a place in order to find something to steal or do something illegal.

Origin of Case the Joint

This expression originated in the 1900s.

Case refers to watch or observe. It likely comes from an old game called Faro, in which case meant a box used to keep track of bets. Over time, this noun became a verb meaning closely observing.

Joint means a place. Joint comes from a joint endeavor, or a partnership, and has the connotation of being a suspicious place. It also may come from the fact that joint can mean a point where two or more things join together, and joint refers to a place where people gather socially.

https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/case-the-joint

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ChatGPT:
The information on the webpage appears to be accurate. "Casing the joint" is a common idiom meaning to look around a place in order to find something to steal or do something illegal. The term likely originated in the early 1900s and has its roots in the word "case," which originally meant to watch or observe. The word "joint" refers to a place and may have originated from the idea of a "joint endeavor" or a partnership. It can also refer to a place where people gather socially.

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桐木舟注解
case + 地点，就能表示“踩点”
● They've been casing this place all week.
● I must say that. They did a good job of casing this place.
● He came in and cased the joint. Dude, he robbed us.
● Only when I'm casing a place to rob.
● Is it possible he was there casing a house for a burglary?
● He cased the bank before robbing it.
● That's all I did for five years. - It could be old ladies talking about baskets they're weaving,  but it could be a terrorist or somebody casing the block.

特别解释最后一个例句：
ChatGPT:
The sentence means that the speaker only did one thing for a period of five years. The second part of the sentence emphasizes the idea that the specific thing the speaker did for five years could be innocuous or nefarious, depending on the context.
The expression "old ladies talking about baskets" is a metaphorical phrase used to describe innocent and harmless activities that pose no threat or danger. It contrasts with the more sinister activity of casing the block, which implies someone is scouting out a location with the intent to commit a crime.
这是我五年来所做的全部。- 这可能是老妇人在谈论她们正在编织的篮子，但也可能是恐怖分子或某个人在窥伺这个街区。