partner

partners in crime 

1. Fig. persons who cooperate in committing a crime or a deception. (Usually an exaggeration.) The sales manager and the used-car salesmen are nothing but partners in crime.

2. persons who cooperate in some legal task. The legal department and payroll are partners in crime as far as the average worker is concerned.

See also: crime

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partners in crime  (humorous)

if two people are partners in crime, they have done something bad together She'd kept watch and made sure no one saw us while I actually took the bike so we were partners in crime.

See also: crime

sleeping partner  (British) also silent partner (American & Australian)

someone who is closely involved with a company, and often provides money for it, but is not a manager of it He was an extremely wealthy man, and she was hoping he might become a sleeping partner in their new vineyards.

See also: sleep