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
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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the usual suspects.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 29 Apr. 2024.
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