--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got an alibi, just in case you think I…" description: "\"“I got an alibi, just in case you think I did it. Tighter than a crab's ass, and that is air tight.”\" — James Ellroy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/james-ellroy-2967_alibi_i-got-an-alibi-just-in-case-you-think-i_3076738.jpg" --- # I got an alibi, just in case you think I did it. Tighter… ![“I got an alibi, just in case you think I did it. Tighter than a crab's ass, and that is air tight.” quote by James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/james-ellroy-2967_alibi_i-got-an-alibi-just-in-case-you-think-i_3076738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/james-ellroy-2967_alibi_i-got-an-alibi-just-in-case-you-think-i_3076738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/james-ellroy-2967_alibi_i-got-an-alibi-just-in-case-you-think-i_3076738.jpg) > ““I got an alibi, just in case you think I did it. Tighter than a crab's ass, and that is air tight.”” [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He boasts an airtight alibi, using vivid, crude imagery for effect. **In simple terms:** A strong alibi is described with graphic humor. Key Takeaway Craft a convincing alibi. Themes crime humor language Mood dark ironic Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - courtroom defense - storytelling - character dialogue Key Concepts legal strategy slang tone Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect credibility? - When is graphic language effective? A Different Perspective May alienate some audiences with crude language. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alibi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibi/) ## Related quotes > [“He was like this when I got here?' That's you alibi?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/he-was-like-this-when-i-got-here-that-s-you-alibi/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [A community is an alibi for the failure of individual love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/a-community-is-an-alibi-for-the-failure-of-individual-love/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [The public wouldn't like the perfect umpire in every game. It would kill off baseball's greatest alibi - 'We was robbed.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-evans/the-public-wouldn-t-like-the-perfect-umpire-in-every-game-it-would/) [Billy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-evans/) > [“any particular idiot in mind?” “I do, indeed. If Tom was actually here on Monday, and he needed an alibi, well, man, he didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/any-particular-idiot-in-mind-i-do-indeed-if-tom-was-actually-here-on/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“The world turned and flung me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-iserson/the-world-turned-and-flung-me/) [David Iserson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-iserson/) > [There are whole years for which I hope I'll never be cross-examined, for I could not give an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-whole-years-for-which-i-hope-i-ll-never-be-cross-examined/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Think and then act. Never act and then alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-iba/think-and-then-act-never-act-and-then-alibi/) [Henry Iba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-iba/) > [“We must have one love, one great love in our life, since it gives us an alibi for all the moments when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-must-have-one-love-one-great-love-in-our-life-since-it-gives-us-an/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“You met a guy in an alley, and he kissed you? Is he still alive, or do I need to provide you with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-d-locke/you-met-a-guy-in-an-alley-and-he-kissed-you-is-he-still-alive-or-do-i/) [I.D. Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-d-locke/) > [People always ask me, 'Where were you when Kennedy was shot?' Well, I don't have an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/people-always-ask-me-where-were-you-when-kennedy-was-shot-well-i-don/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“Honesty whispers, "Don't get pricked by the thorns of lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/honesty-whispers-don-t-get-pricked-by-the-thorns-of-lie/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“Don't ever accuse anyone of being full of pride, undignified and unprofessional when simply they are wise to move away from dishonest schemers. Dishonesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-ever-accuse-anyone-of-being-full-of-pride-undignified-and/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [“on Arthur Russell and check out his so-called alibi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-gibney/on-arthur-russell-and-check-out-his-so-called-alibi/) [Patricia Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-gibney/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More by James Ellroy > [“Fear and I played peek-a-boo - it always seemed to grab my balls and twist just when it felt like something inside me could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/fear-and-i-played-peek-a-boo-it-always-seemed-to-grab-my-balls-and/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [My father actually went to college, and my mother went to nursing school, so, you know. I wouldn't... They were actually too square and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/my-father-actually-went-to-college-and-my-mother-went-to-nursing/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [I've created a narrative of the world. I live in the world - tenuously, most times. I've avoided the digital world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-ve-created-a-narrative-of-the-world-i-live-in-the-world-tenuously/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [Some men get the world, some men get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona. You're in with the former, but my God I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/some-men-get-the-world-some-men-get-ex-hookers-and-a-trip-to-arizona/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [In the time just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when Perfidia opens, we were pre-psychologized. There were no concepts of identity, no politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/in-the-time-just-before-the-bombing-of-pearl-harbor-when-perfidia/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [“It all came down to money - the great equalizer and common denominator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/it-all-came-down-to-money-the-great-equalizer-and-common-denominator/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [I think the great unspoken theme in noir fiction is male self-pity. It pervades noir movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-think-the-great-unspoken-theme-in-noir-fiction-is-male-self-pity-it/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [“Don't make a career out of underestimating me." — Claire de Haven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/don-t-make-a-career-out-of-underestimating-me-claire-de-haven/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [“I didn't care who we were. I required no consummation. I knew that whoever we were and whatever we had would never stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-didn-t-care-who-we-were-i-required-no-consummation-i-knew-that/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [Where’s your sketch pad?” I asked. … “I gave that up,” Kay said. “I wasn’t very good, so I changed my major.” “To what?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/where-s-your-sketch-pad-i-asked-i-gave-that-up-kay-said-i-wasn-t-very/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [I am a master of fiction. I am also the greatest crime novelist who ever lived. I am to the crime novel in specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-am-a-master-of-fiction-i-am-also-the-greatest-crime-novelist-who/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [ I don't want to recover from writing this book \[The Onion\]. I feel very poised. I feel like I'm with my mother for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-don-t-want-to-recover-from-writing-this-book-the-onion-i-feel-very/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [Rock and rollers can get you the youth buzz, and younger people are fanatical readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/rock-and-rollers-can-get-you-the-youth-buzz-and-younger-people-are/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [I don't know anybody in the underworld. I make this stuff up. I don't know any criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-don-t-know-anybody-in-the-underworld-i-make-this-stuff-up-i-don-t/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [“He took three shots a night-no more, no less. He switched from whisky to straight gin. The bum compensated for the scant volume. Three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/he-took-three-shots-a-night-no-more-no-less-he-switched-from-whisky/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) [Explore all 143 James Ellroy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) ## More Alibi quotes > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“on Arthur Russell and check out his so-called alibi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-gibney/on-arthur-russell-and-check-out-his-so-called-alibi/) [Patricia Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-gibney/) > [“Don't ever accuse anyone of being full of pride, undignified and unprofessional when simply they are wise to move away from dishonest schemers. Dishonesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-ever-accuse-anyone-of-being-full-of-pride-undignified-and/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“Honesty whispers, "Don't get pricked by the thorns of lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/honesty-whispers-don-t-get-pricked-by-the-thorns-of-lie/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [People always ask me, 'Where were you when Kennedy was shot?' Well, I don't have an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/people-always-ask-me-where-were-you-when-kennedy-was-shot-well-i-don/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“You met a guy in an alley, and he kissed you? Is he still alive, or do I need to provide you with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-d-locke/you-met-a-guy-in-an-alley-and-he-kissed-you-is-he-still-alive-or-do-i/) [I.D. Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-d-locke/) > [“We must have one love, one great love in our life, since it gives us an alibi for all the moments when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-must-have-one-love-one-great-love-in-our-life-since-it-gives-us-an/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Think and then act. Never act and then alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-iba/think-and-then-act-never-act-and-then-alibi/) [Henry Iba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-iba/) > [There are whole years for which I hope I'll never be cross-examined, for I could not give an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-whole-years-for-which-i-hope-i-ll-never-be-cross-examined/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“The world turned and flung me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-iserson/the-world-turned-and-flung-me/) [David Iserson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-iserson/) > [“any particular idiot in mind?” “I do, indeed. If Tom was actually here on Monday, and he needed an alibi, well, man, he didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/any-particular-idiot-in-mind-i-do-indeed-if-tom-was-actually-here-on/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [The public wouldn't like the perfect umpire in every game. It would kill off baseball's greatest alibi - 'We was robbed.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-evans/the-public-wouldn-t-like-the-perfect-umpire-in-every-game-it-would/) [Billy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-evans/) > [A community is an alibi for the failure of individual love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/a-community-is-an-alibi-for-the-failure-of-individual-love/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [A is for Alibi, my first book, was published in 1982. As it happened the next couple of books took place in June and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/a-is-for-alibi-my-first-book-was-published-in-1982-as-it-happened-the/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) [Browse all 60 Alibi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I got an alibi, just in case you think I did it. 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