on the crook en · ADP
Meanings
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(UK, obsolete, slang) In a crooked or dishonest manner.
Martin said at first that he bought the flour of a miller […] He next stated that it was an example, which he would not have pay to for^([sic]), and subsequently he confessed that he got it "on the crook."
1899, The London Corn Circular, volume 56, page 2: