the usual suspects

noun

: the usual people or things that are suspected or thought of in a particular situation
often used humorously
The breakfast menu had all the usual suspects—eggs, pancakes, waffles, and French toast.

Examples of the usual suspects in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the nominees for the 95th Academy Awards were announced on Jan. 24, the lineup was a traditional combination of the usual suspects and welcome outliers. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2023 George Eliot, the Brontë sisters, Dickens, the usual suspects, and, of course, George Orwell. Amy Sutherland, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2023 Naturally, Vanguard’s decision caused outrage from many of the usual suspects. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 25 Feb. 2023 My not-so-low-maintenance routine involves the usual suspects: primer, foundation, concealer, and powder. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2023

Dictionary Entries Near the usual suspects

Cite this Entry

“The usual suspects.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20usual%20suspects. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!